Alec Baldwin’s manslaughter case dropped after prosecutors withdraw appeal

What’s New

New Mexico prosecutors said they will not appeal the dismissal of an involuntary manslaughter charge against actor Alec Baldwin, the Santa Fe district attorney’s office announced on Monday.

Why It Matters

The decision brings an official end to the high-profile case in the fatal shooting of a cinematographer on the set of the film Rust.

Special Prosecutor Kari Morrissey withdrew the appeal on Monday, closing a chapter on a legal battle marked by allegations of mishandled evidence and procedural missteps.

In July, Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer dismissed the case on allegations that police and prosecutors withheld evidence from the defense. It was a significant victory for Baldwin, who pleaded not guilty in his involuntary manslaughter case and said that he did not pull the trigger of the prop gun when it discharged with the resulting gunfire killing cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.

What To Know

The fatal shooting of Hutchins occurred during an October 2021 rehearsal for the western film near Santa Fe.

Baldwin, who served as the lead actor and co-producer for Rust, was rehearsing with a revolver that discharged, killing Hutchins and injuring director Joel Souza. Baldwin has asserted the revolver discharged when he pulled back the hammer.

However, the case faltered amid revelations that evidence linked to live ammunition on the set had not been properly disclosed to the defense. Baldwin’s lawyers successfully argued that the mishandling undermined the prosecution’s case, leading to the charge’s dismissal midway through the trial.

What People Are Saying

Baldwin’s defense attorneys Luke Nikas and Alex Spiro said in a statement: “Today’s decision to dismiss the appeal is the final vindication of what Alec Baldwin and his attorneys have said from the beginning — this was an unspeakable tragedy but Alec Baldwin committed no crime. The rule of law remains intact in New Mexico.”

The district attorney’s office said that under state law the New Mexico attorney general would have carried forward the appeal but “did not intend to exhaustively pursue the appeal on behalf of the prosecution.”

Local prosecutors said, “As a result, the State’s efforts to continue to litigate the case in a fair and comprehensive manner have been met with multiple barriers that have compromised its ability to prosecute to the fullest extent of the law.”

According to The Associated Press, representatives for the state attorney general could not be reached immediately for comment.

Other Legal Fallout

The legal fallout from the shooting extended beyond Baldwin. In April, weapons supervisor Hannah Gutierrez-Reed received a maximum sentence of 18 months in state prison after being convicted of involuntary manslaughter. Prosecutors argued that Gutierrez-Reed failed to follow basic firearm safety protocols and inadvertently allowed live ammunition on set.

Additionally, assistant director David Halls, who served as the film’s safety coordinator, pleaded no contest to negligent use of a deadly weapon. He was sentenced to six months of unsupervised probation.

What Happens Next

The Rust tragedy has had far-reaching consequences, sparking civil lawsuits and prompting widespread industry scrutiny of firearm safety on film sets. Among those seeking legal action are Hutchins’ parents and sister, who have filed a complaint against Baldwin and the film’s producers.

Despite the dismissal of the criminal charges against Baldwin, the civil lawsuit continues. However, the result of the lawsuit as yet to be determined.

“We will continue to champion the truth. That Alec Baldwin is responsible for Halyna’s death,” Santa Fe, attorney Gloria Allred said in July. “We are dedicated to holding Alec Baldwin and the entire Rust production team accountable in our civil lawsuit.”

This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.