Alec Baldwin: All criminal charges against actor over fatal shooting on Rust set are dropped

All criminal charges against actor Alec Baldwin over the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the Rust movie have been dropped.

Prosecutors in Santa Fe, in the US state of New Mexico, had been pressing forward with two involuntary manslaughter charges against the 65-year-old Hollywood star.

There are still at least five ongoing civil cases against Baldwin and the producers of Rust.

A statement from Baldwin’s lawyers, Luke Nikas and Alex Spiro, said: “We are pleased with the decision to dismiss the case against Alec Baldwin and we encourage a proper investigation into the facts and circumstances of this tragic accident.”

However, prosecutors are continuing with involuntary manslaughter charges against weapons supervisor Hannah Gutierrez-Reed. She has pleaded not guilty.

Ms Hutchins, 42, was shot and killed on 21 October 2021, during filming at the Bonanza Creek Ranch.

Baldwin was rehearsing with a pistol for a scene when the gun went off, killing Ms Hutchins and wounding director Joel Souza who was also shot.

Melina Spadone, a lawyer for Rust Movie Productions, exclusively told Sky News: “We have every confidence in the judicial system and that the cause of Halyna’s death will be thoroughly investigated.

“Alec is a consummate professional… for everyone else, it’s a good outcome in the sense that we think that justice has been served.”

It comes as Baldwin resumed filming of Rust at the Yellowstone Film Ranch in Montana, 18 months after Halyna Hutchins was shot dead on set.

The production company finalised a settlement last month with New Mexico workplace safety regulars over “serious” violations and agreed to a $100,000 (£80,000) fine to resolve a scathing safety review which revealed unheeded complaints and misfires on set before Ms Hutchins was killed.

Earlier this month, Baldwin asked for a lawsuit filed by the parents and sister of Ms Hutchins to be dismissed by a judge.

The actor said Olga Solovey, Anatolii Androsovych, and Svetlana Zemko filed the suit in February to “obtain compensation”.

It alleges battery, negligence, intentional infliction of emotional distress and loss of consortium, which is when a plaintiff seeks to recover compensation for damages to certain relationships on which they are mutually dependent.

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Dave Halls, the first assistant director on the set, was sentenced last month to a suspended sentence after he pleaded guilty to negligent use of a deadly weapon. Prosecutors said he was responsible for set safety.

Baldwin was pointing a gun at Ms Hutchins during a rehearsal when the weapon when off.

The actor claimed the gun went off accidentally and that he did not pull the trigger.

However, an FBI forensic report found the weapon could not have fired unless the trigger was pulled.

The star has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and previously pleaded not guilty to the two charges of involuntary manslaughter that have now been dropped.

The actor was also sued by Ms Hutchins’ husband, Matthew Hutchins, alleging that reckless behaviour and cost-cutting led to her death.

A settlement was reached outside of court in October 2022.

Three crew members are also among those to have started legal action, saying they have suffered anxiety and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder since the shooting.