Alec Baldwin may still face charges for ‘Rust’ shooting despite them being dropped

Alec Baldwin may have appeared to have avoided a trial for involuntary manslaughter as those charges have now been dropped, but the actor may not get away scot-free. The investigation into the events of the tragic accident which saw cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, fatally shot on the set of Rust continues and more charges may be brought up at a later date.

The investigation looks into the tragedy itself including the lead-up to the fatal shooting and what could have contributed to Hutchins’s death. The incident happened when Baldwin was on set about to film an action scene using a gun but the gun was loaded with a live round. Serious concern was then raised into how a live round was on set, and how it ended up in the gun in Baldwin’s hands without someone noticing.

Criminal charges were then brought against Baldwin and the former Rust armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, whose job it was to check and keep an eye on the guns used on set. Currently, Gutierrez-Reed is still facing charges of involuntary manslaughter as the charges against her currently remain the same.

The special prosecutors on the case, Kari Morrissey and Jason Lewis, spoke out late Thursday night releasing the statement about the criminal charges facing Baldwin having been dropped, though they are not completely off the table as they may be refiled pending “further investigation.” Deadline reported their official statement, which read,

“Over the last few days and in preparation for the May 3, 2023, preliminary hearing, new facts were revealed that demand further investigation and forensic analysis in the case against Alexander “Alec” Rae Baldwin, III. Consequently, we cannot proceed under the current time constraints and on the facts and evidence turned over by law enforcement in its existing form. We therefore will be dismissing the involuntary manslaughter charges against Mr. Baldwin to conduct further investigation. This decision does not absolve Mr. Baldwin of criminal culpability and charges may be refiled. Our follow-up investigation will remain active and on-going.”

Baldwin has maintained his innocence throughout the entire proceedings and pled not guilty on February 23 this year. His initial charge saw both him and Guiterrez-Reed potentially face up to five years in prison, which was later downgraded in February to 18 months. He still holds to the fact that he did not pull the trigger on the weapon that killed Hutchins and injured director Joel Souza that day, a fact that the FBI disagree with in their own report on the incident.

The film was scheduled to have re-started filming a while ago, but was delayed, it is now said to be picking back up this week with Hutchins’ husband, Matthew Hutchins, taking on a role as an executive producer, as part of a settlement in his wrongful death suit. He will see that his wife’s final film is completed and also plans on filming a documentary to commemorate her life and career.