Alec Baldwin is once again under scrutiny, as prosecutors announced that they are considering reopening charges against him relating to the fatal shooting incident on the "Rust" film set. The unfortunate event took the life of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.
Previous involuntary manslaughter charges against the actor were dismissed due to a damaged firearm. Investigators discovered signs of tampering with the gun's hammer, and the FBI subsequently damaged the weapon during testing.
However, Baldwin may face legal trouble once again if the results of the ongoing forensic investigation determine that the firearm was not defective.
"If the investigation shows the gun didn't malfunction, the charges against Baldwin will be resumed," prosecutors indicated in a recent court document. They anticipate reaching a decision on whether to charge the actor by mid-August.
The 65-year-old actor has remained firm in his stance that he did not fire the Colt .45 Peacemaker revolver. Baldwin admitted to pointing the loaded weapon at Hutchins during a rehearsal on the New Mexico set of his Western film, which he was also producing.
Gun experts expressed incredulity at the suggestion that the firearm discharged autonomously, discharging a live round that injured director Joel Souza, 50, and resulted in the death of 42-year-old Hutchins in October 2021.
Currently, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the weapons supervisor, is the sole individual facing charges in connection with Hutchins' death. She has entered a plea of not guilty to involuntary manslaughter.
Meanwhile, David Halls, the safety coordinator and assistant director, accepted a plea of no contest to a conviction for mishandling a firearm. He received a suspended sentence and six months probation.