New Lawsuit: Baldwin Facing New Charges After Tragic Movie Death
In the wake of the tragic death of Halyna Hutchins on the set of “Rust,” new charges confront Alec Baldwin, even though his previous case was dropped. Justice still awaits other major players, particularly the film’s armorer, Hannah Gutierrez Reed, who was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter.
The family of Halyna Hutchins, the camera operator who was shot on set, initially filed lawsuits. After the incident, their initial lawsuit achieved partial success. Several individuals confronted jail time or settlement payments for wrongful death. In April 2023, authorities dropped Baldwin’s criminal charges, but those charges were later refiled against Baldwin in January 2024.
On June 6, 2024, Halyna’s mother, sister, father, and the “Rust” script supervisor filed a new lawsuit in New Mexico against Alec Baldwin for “intentional and/or negligent acts.” The lawsuit pointed to Baldwin’s original actions, asserting that he was aware of the danger his actions posed, which ultimately resulted in Halyna’s death.
In a compelling statement, the lawsuit declares, “Baldwin chose to play Russian Roulette with a loaded gun without checking it and without having the armorer do so.”
They further call Baldwin’s responsibility into question, arguing, “The fact that live ammunition was allowed on a movie set, that guns and ammunition were left unattended, that the gun in question was handed to defendant Baldwin by the assistant director who had no business doing so, and that safety bulletins were not promulgated and ignored, coupled with the fact that the scene in question did not call for a gun to be fired at all and that defendant Baldwin inexplicably pointed and fired a gun at Halyna Hutchins, makes this a case where injury or death was much more than just a possibility — it was a likely result.”
What Happened On the Rust Set?
“Rust” was a Western genre film in development around October 2021. While rehearsing a scene, actor Alec Baldwin was using a prop gun. The gun should have contained fake ammunition during the time. Regrettably, the gun discharged while Baldwin was rehearsing, hitting camerawoman Halyna Hutchins. The film’s director, Joel Souza, also sustained injuries in addition to Halyna. Tragically, the shooting led to Halyna’s death.
Seeking Justice Against All Responsible
In a separate statement, the group’s attorney clarifies their intentions towards Baldwin and other individuals. Gloria Allred, their lawyer, expresses their aspiration to initiate litigation against those who escaped responsibility in the Superior Court of Los Angeles. She contends that the ‘minimum contacts’ defense used for Baldwin could also demonstrate the lack of care for people like Halyna on the set.
In the wake of others facing justice for their part in the death, we can only wait to see what happens to Baldwin and others who were relatively unscathed in the original lawsuit,
Hannah Gutierrez Reed Found Guilty of Involuntary Manslaughter
Hannah Gutierrez Reed was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter and sentenced to 18 months in prison. Compared to Baldwin, her direct role in maintaining safety regarding weapons on set solidified her responsibility.
Baldwin Facing Multiple Types of Charges
In the confusion of the tragedy and following court hearings, it is easy to lose track of what is going on legally. To clarify things, Baldwin is facing multiple types of charges, ranging from civil suits to criminal offenses.
Baldwin initially confronted criminal charges for involuntary manslaughter in early 2023, concurrently with the charges against Hannah Gutierrez Reed. After a period of absolution, authorities indicted Baldwin once more with charges of involuntary manslaughter in 2024.
In addition to these criminal charges, Baldwin also faced several civil charges. Civil suits are typically disputes between groups or individuals. In this instance, Baldwin is confronting civil charges from Halyna Hutchin’s family.
As Baldwin’s civil and criminal hearings proceed, it is important to note how each case resolves.
Alec Baldwin Facing New Charges: What’s Next?
In the end, Halyna’s family and the injured crew from the incident still want justice for their respective losses. Following the failure to hold people like Baldwin responsible, they seek to prove their specific roles in the tragic 2021 shooting.
Currently, set armorer Hannah Gutierrez Reed is confronting jail time, while Baldwin and others have made settlement payments. We can only anticipate the outcome as Alec Baldwin faces new charges.