Hilaria Baldwin has returned the tribute paid to her by husband Alec after charges were dropped against him for accidentally shooting and killing a cameraman on the set of his western film Rust.
Baldwin, 39, posted a photo of herself curled up oddly on husband Alec’s knee on Thursday night, just hours after the news broke.
Her only caption for the photo, which has over 36,000 likes in five hours, was a heart emoji.
The comments section was full of people offering their love to the two Baldwins after the news.
Her Instagram post came just two hours after husband Alec publicly shared his own tribute to their love.
Hilaria Baldwin has returned the tribute paid to her by husband Alec after charges were dropped against him for accidentally shooting and killing a cameraman on the set of his western film Rust
“I owe this woman everything I have,” Baldwin said, posting a photo on Instagram with his wife, mother of seven of his children.
Baldwin added, “(and to you, Luke)” — a reference to his attorney, Luke Nikas.
The charges were dropped after new evidence emerged suggesting the gun could have been fired without pulling the trigger, a source close to the investigation told The Wall Street Journal.
The FBI dismissed Baldwin’s claim that he didn’t pull the trigger, but the source said the gun was modified before it reached set so it could fire a bullet without the trigger being pulled.
The charges against the armorer who supplied the deadly weapon remain.
Baldwin, 65, discovered Thursday that two involuntary manslaughter charges had been dropped against him in the October 2021 killing of Halyna Hutchins.
His attorneys, Luke Nikas and Alex Spiro, told : “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.”
Baldwin arrived in Montana last night to continue filming on the film which was being shot in New Mexico at the time of Hutchins’ death.
Earlier this year, it was announced that Baldwin would remain in the lead role of Rust, with a different cinematographer replacing Hutchins
Alec Baldwin arrived in Montana a day before filming resumed on his troubled western Rust, exclusive photo show reveals
Santa Fe prosecutors did not immediately respond to requests for comment from .
Recently appointed special prosecutors Kari Morrissey and Jason Lewis are expected to soon file papers to have the charges dropped.
This means that the details of the incident are to be further investigated and the case could resurface in the future.
Baldwin’s co-defendant and Rust gunsmith Hannah Gutierrez-Reed still faces charges against her.
This will keep the investigation into the accident open and allow prosecutors to retain subpoena power going forward.
It comes just days after the witness list filing for the May 3 preliminary hearing became public.
These include former Rust scriptwriter Mamie Mitchell, who is suing Baldwin and his fellow producers in one of the many lawsuits against them.
However, it is understood that the hearing will not take place as prosecutors are re-examining the circumstances surrounding the incident.
It follows that Santa Fe District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies resigned from the case late last month.
Camera crews were there to capture the tender moment Baldwin kissed his wife and child goodbye on Wednesday
Despite the controversy, a spokesman for Rust Movie Productions told CNN on Tuesday that filming is continuing at the Yellowstone Film Ranch in Montana
Baldwin joins Hutchins – a mother of one – on the set of Rust in October 2021
Production was abruptly halted in October 2021 when Baldwin shot a live round of a prop gun on the film’s set in New Mexico, killing cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.
Rookie Closet Gutierrez-Reed did not have another role in filming the film, which Baldwin pushed to create.
In February, the Santa Fe County Attorney’s Office dropped a key weapon enhancement charge, a crime that would have been sentenced to five years in prison if convicted.
Director Joel Souza, who was injured by the same bullet that killed Hutchins, will also return to complete the project.
Last week, a judge publicly sealed the terms of a civil settlement between Baldwins and Hutchins’ widower Matthew and their son.
Matthew Hutchins and Baldwin reached another agreement in October. Part of this called for Hutchins to serve as executive producer on the film.
After settling the lawsuit last year, Matthew claimed he didn’t want any further “accusations.”
But in January, the Hutchins family said they supported the involuntary manslaughter charge against Baldwin.
Cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was killed on the set of Rust in October 2021
David Halls, assistant director of the film Rust, will testify against actor Alec Baldwin over an accidental shooting on set of the film that killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins
Last Thursday, Baldwin filed a motion to dismiss another lawsuit filed by Hutchin’s parents and sister, alleging they had been distanced from her “physically, financially and emotionally for years prior to her death.”
Baldwin said in court documents, “The loss of a daughter and a sister is undoubtedly painful in any circumstance.
‘However, plaintiffs who were physically, financially and emotionally distant from Halyna for years prior to her death have no valid reason to proceed against the defendants.’
Matthew Hutchins was scheduled to testify in court and was placed on the New Mexico District Attorney’s witness list to testify at the February 24 preliminary hearing.
Production was abruptly halted in October 2021 when a prop gun held by Baldwin fired a live cartridge, killing cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the film’s set in New Mexico. A picture of Hutchins is shown at a vigil
Baldwin received approval from Judge Mary Marlow Sommer to stay away from the pretrial
Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, gunsmith from “Rust”, was charged with Baldwin in the woman’s death
Baldwin received approval from Judge Mary Marlow Sommer to stay away from the pretrial.
Judge Sommer was supposed to determine if there was enough evidence for a full trial, and the new decision has thrown the case into chaos.
Prosecutors initially alleged that Baldwin pulled the trigger of the gun that killed Hutchins while Gutierrez-Reed failed to ensure that it was discharged.
The widower, who shared a nine-year-old son with Hutchins, sued the Rust production team last year and was made chief executive as part of the settlement.
The extensive list of witnesses includes director Joel Souza, who was wounded by the bullet that went through Hutchins, and assistant director David Halls.
Halls is accused of telling Baldwin the gun was “cold” – sure – an allegation he has denied.
In January, he settled with prosecutors on a plea deal that included a six-month suspended sentence and a fine.
Prop master Seth Kenney, camera assistant Lane Luper, executive producer Gabrielle Pickle and script director Maime Mitchell are also likely to testify.
Matthew Hutchins (left) was added to the New Mexico District Attorney’s witness roll to testify against Alec Baldwin at the February 24 preliminary hearing. Matthew is pictured above with Halyna and their now nine-year-old son
Halls signed a plea agreement for negligent use of a deadly weapon, which served six months of probation. He also agreed to pay a $500 fine, take a firearms safety course, and do 24 hours of community service
Producer/actor Baldwin fired the prop cannon (pictured) on the set of the film Rust in New Mexico, killing one crew member and injuring another
Prosecutors noted in court documents filed in January that Baldwin was absent from an initial firearms training session.
Gutierrez-Reed set up Baldwin for a one-hour follow-up session, but it only lasted 30 minutes.
“According to Reed, Baldwin was distracted and was talking to his family on his cellphone during practice,” prosecutors said.
The affidavit claimed Baldwin gave “inconsistent accounts” of how the shooting happened — first telling police he “fired” the gun and then insisting he didn’t pull the trigger.
Prosecutors stated that “photos and videos clearly show Baldwin with his finger in the trigger guard and on the trigger on several occasions.”
They add, “Baldwin reached out to responding MPs on the day of the shooting and wanted to speak to them because he was the one who ‘fired’ the gun.”
Baldwin claimed in interviews after the shooting that he didn’t pull the trigger.
He believes the fault lies with the gunsmith, who he feels should have checked that the gun was safe before handing it to him.
However, the probable cause statement against Baldwin referenced the FBI’s earlier analysis of the firearm, which “conclusively showed that the gun could not ‘accidentally fire’.”
The document also said Baldwin failed to require “at least two security checks between the gunsmith and himself” before the shooting.