Lawyers for American actor Alec Baldwin said Thursday that New Mexico prosecutors have decided to drop criminal charges against the actor in connection with a shooting that killed director of photography Helena Hutchins on the set of “Rust” in 2021.
Baldwin, 65, was charged with involuntary manslaughter in January in connection with Hutchins’ death and the shooting of the film’s director, Joel Sousa.
The actor was accused of “reckless” careless safety measures in Hutchins’ death. He pleaded not guilty in February after prosecutors lowered the severity of the charges, reducing the possible prison term.
“We are pleased with the decision to dismiss the case against Alec Baldwin and encourage a proper investigation into the circumstances and circumstances of this tragic incident,” Baldwin’s attorneys, Luke Nicas and Alex Spiro, said in a statement.
A spokesman for prosecutors in New Mexico’s 1st District, where the charges were filed, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Baldwin denies responsibility for the shooting, saying he aimed the gun but never pulled the trigger, and that it was the job of other gun officials to make sure there were no bullets in it.
Hutchins was born in Ukraine, where her parents and sister live near Kiev. In her suit, her family sought, under New Mexico law, unspecified compensation from Baldwin, the film’s crew members, and the producers for the loss of Halena.
