Alec Baldwin’s manslaughter charge following the shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of ‘Rust’ gave way to one of the most complex legal sagas in modern Hollywood history. Here is a complete rundown of what happened on the set of ‘Rust,’ Halyna Hutchins’ death, the manslaughter charges that followed, and the film’s official release almost four years later.
2021: Alec Baldwin shoots Halyna Hutchins on the set of ‘Rust’
The production company behind the film had announced on October 6 that year that the production for ‘Rust’ would begin in Santa Fe soon. On October 21, the crew was preparing for the scene, and the production was going on. CBS News reported that while rehearsing one of the scenes in the film inside a wooden church at Bonanza Creek Ranch near Santa Fe, New Mexico, Alec Baldwin drew a Pietta .45 Colt revolver. The gun fired a single live round, fatally wounding cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and injuring director Joel Souza. Assistant director Dave Halls had handed Baldwin the gun after calling out “cold gun,” which is an industry shorthand for an unloaded/safe weapon. The prop originally should have had dummy rounds in it; however, the actor was given a live weapon.In November, a month later, the film’s script supervisor, Mamie Mitchell, filed a civil suit accusing Baldwin of “playing Russian roulette” by pointing the revolver at Hutchins. In December, Baldwin issued his first statement to ABC News, stating that he did not know that there was a live round in the gun, that he did not pull the trigger, and that he did not think that he would be criminally charged for the incident.
2022: The investigation continues
In January, the film’s armorer, Hannah Gutierrez, filed another lawsuit in which she alleged that the ammunition boxes, which were supplied by the prop provider, did not state that the box contained both dummy and live ammunition. Later, in August, an FBI forensic report concluded that the revolver could not have fired without the trigger being pulled while the hammer was cocked.In February, Halyna’s family filed a wrongful death lawsuit, and Baldwin and the Rust producers later reached a settlement with Halyna Hutchins’ widower, Matthew Hutchins, who agreed to become an executive producer on the film when production resumes. The Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office then finished its initial investigation and turned over all evidence to the First Judicial District Attorney without recommending specific charges.This was also the time Baldwin also filed a lawsuit alleging negligence of several of the film’s crew members, which caused the incident on set.
2023: Alec Baldwin pleads not guilty
Special prosecutors officially charged Alec Baldwin and lead armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed with two counts each of involuntary manslaughter. Later, first assistant director Dave Halls pleaded no contest to negligent use of a deadly weapon. He ended up receiving around 6 months of probation and agreed to testify in future trials.In April, special prosecutors Kari Morrissey and Jason Lewis dropped all criminal charges against Alec Baldwin without prejudice, stating that new evidence indicated the revolver had been modified, making it possible for the hammer to slip without a trigger pull. By May, filming on ‘Rust’ resumed in Montana and wrapped production.In June, Gutierrez was given an additional charge for tampering with evidence and for allegedly transferring narcotic substances to another person after her interview with police following the shooting; however, she later pleaded not guilty on charges of involuntary manslaughter and tampering with evidence.
2024: Alec Baldwin cleared of all charges
The Los Angeles Times reported that in January, forensic experts reconstructed the firearm and concluded the trigger was pulled; a Santa Fe grand jury then re-indicted Alec Baldwin on charges of involuntary manslaughter. At the time, the actor pleaded not guilty. Hannah also stood for trial around the same time, during which prosecutors established that she introduced live rounds to the set and failed to follow basic safety protocols.Gutierrez-Reed was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter on April 15, 2024, and was sentenced to the maximum penalty of 18 months in prison. In July, Alec Baldwin’s trial began in Santa Fe, New Mexico, which was presided over by Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer. During the case, Alex Spiro, the defense attorney, presented the case that police and prosecutors concealed evidence. This specifically pointed to a box of live ammunition that had been sent to the sheriff’s office in March 2024 by a former military officer (Troy Teske). The rounds had allegedly matched the live bullet that killed Hutchins and pointed toward prop supplier Seth Kenney, rather than the armorer or Baldwin. On July 12, in a publicized court hearing, the defense filed a motion to dismiss, claiming a severe Brady violation, and the judges dismissed all charges against the actor.‘Rust’ officially reached theaters worldwide after all charges were dismissed against Alec Baldwin in 2025. Over the years, Baldwin has continued to express his remorse and regret over everything that happened on the sets of the film.
