The ongoing criminal case against actor Alec Baldwin (65) after he was fatally shot during filming has been dropped. The announcement was made by special investigators hired by the district attorney in Santa Fe, New Mexico, on Thursday afternoon (local time). The manslaughter charge raised in January will be dropped, but the investigation into the case will continue, the statement said.
In this sense, new facts have been known in recent days that require further investigation and forensic analysis. Baldwin may be sued again at a later date, he said. The competent court in Santa Fe has scheduled a hearing for Friday afternoon (local time).
Baldwin’s lawyers were the first to announce the new development in the case on Thursday. Baldwin’s lawyers, Luke Nikas and Alex Spiro, said they were satisfied with the decision to drop the charges.
Camerawoman Halyna Hutchins was fatally injured in October 2021 while filming the western “Rust” at a Santa Fe movie ranch. Baldwin, who served as the film’s lead actor and producer, was holding a gun rehearsing for a scene when a shot went off. There was a real bullet in the Colt. It’s unclear how the live ammunition ended up on set.
Baldwin and gunsmith Hannah Gutierrez-Reed were charged with manslaughter in January. Both always denied responsibility for the fatal accident. Gutierrez-Reed has yet to appear in court, the special counsel said.