Alec Baldwin’s involuntary manslaughter charge is set to be dropped in connection with the fatal 2021 shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the Western movie “Rust,” according to a statement released by the actor’s attorneys on Thursday, The Associated Press (AP) reports.
Baldwin’s legal team, Luke Nikas and Alex Spiro, expressed their satisfaction with the outcome, stating, “We are pleased with the decision to dismiss the case against Alec Baldwin and we encourage a proper investigation into the facts and circumstances of this tragic accident.”
No immediate response was received from the prosecutors and the potential for charges to be refiled remains uncertain.
Both Baldwin and the film’s weapons supervisor, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, had been charged with involuntary manslaughter following the incident.
During a rehearsal, Baldwin pointed a pistol at Hutchins, resulting in the weapon discharging and killing her, while also injuring director Joel Souza.
Baldwin has maintained that the gun discharged accidentally, claiming that he did not pull the trigger, even though an FBI forensic report concluded that the weapon could not have fired without the trigger being pulled.
The case against Baldwin had been weakening, as a weapons charge that would have resulted in a longer sentence was previously dismissed, AP notes.
Additionally, the initial special prosecutor in the case resigned. It remains unclear if the charge against Gutierrez-Reed will also be dropped.