Celebrity
Alec Baldwin Could Face Criminal Charges In Fatal ‘Rust’ Shooting, D.A Says
Investigators also focus on the many individuals who handled the gun Baldwin fired.
The Santa Fe County District Attorney’s Office has disclosed up to four people, including Alec Baldwin, could be charged in the shooting of Halyna Hutchins, a cinematographer that was on set while filming “Rust” in 2021. The four others aren’t known, and the prosecution will require separate jury trials.
The final investigative report on the shooting near Santa Fe, New Mexico, is expected next month, at which prosecutors will file criminal charges if warranted.
“During the filming of [Rust], Alec Baldwin shot and killed Halyna Hutchins and injured Joel Souza while rehearsing a scene. Many individuals has handled the gun that ultimately killed Hutchins and injured Souza,” Santa Fe District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies wrote in one of the documents obtained by The Post.
Carmack-Altwies [pictured] has filed a request for $635,500 from New Mexico’s Board of Finance so her office would have the funds necessary to prosecute.
She added: “Since October of [2021], my office has been waiting for evidence to be examined by the FBI. The results of the investigation have now been returned to my office. Only a few items are outstanding but are expected any day.” Upon receiving the bulk of evidence, Carmack-Altwies said Santa Fe prosecutors determined defendants from Rust would need to be prosecuted.
“I am ready to start the decision of what individuals will be criminally charged in this case,” the district attorney revealed.
When asked what specific charges could be brought forth, Carmack-Altwies said her office attorneys are looking at all the homicide and gun statutes under the New Mexico criminal code. In the documents, she stressed that the funding is necessary because there’s not enough money in the office’s budget to prosecute such a high-profile case and attend to other cases.
Part of the money will be used to contract an additional, more qualified attorney with 26 years of experience who could devote her full time and attention to the matter.
The document further states that the office will also hire a special investigator, paralegal, media spokesperson, numerous firearms on movie sets, firearms handling on movie sets, and safety protocols. Carmack-Altwies argued: “If the funding is denied, the entire community will be affected. Monies will have to be moved off lower profile cases to supplement prosecuting the RUST case.”
“This could allow repeat and dangerous offenders to be pled out versus pursuing jury trials to save money. This will put dangerous criminals back on the street and will affect the safety of the entire community.”
Baldwin has countless times denied firing the gun, which had been in his hands during a rehearsal in October. He insisted it went off accidentally, but a recent FBI Forensic report highlighted the firearm couldn’t have gone off unless someone pulled the trigger. In response to being charged, the actor’s attorney has said it’s unclear who could be charged if anyone.
Attorney Luke Nikas said the DA has made clear that she has not received the sheriff’s report or made any decisions about who, if anyone, might be charged in the case.
Luke explained: “During my communications with the DA’s office just a few weeks ago, after the August 30 funding request was submitted, I was told that it would be premature to discuss the case because they hadn’t yet reviewed the file or deliberated about their charging decision.” However, the state finance board has ultimately awarded the office $317,000, half of what it had sought.
Carmack-Altwies told Santa Fe New Mexican that the office would request a special appropriation to get the rest of the money for the prosecution.
