Alec Baldwin has broken his silence following news that he was charged with involuntary manslaughter.
The 64-year-old actor made headlines in October 2021 after 42-year-old cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was fatally shot on the set of the movie Rust in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
It was widely reported that Baldwin had been rehearsing a scene using a prop gun when it accidentally misfired, killing Hutchins and injuring director Joel Souza.
Since then, Baldwin has maintained his innocence, accusing the movie's armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed - who has also been charged with involuntary manslaughter - of not ensuring the weapon was safe.
The decision to charge Baldwin was announced on Thursday (January 19) by district attorney for New Mexico's first judicial district Mary Carmack-Altwies and special prosecutor Andrea Reeb, who stated: "Actor and producer Alec Baldwin and armorer Hannah Gutierrez Reed will each be charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter."
"I have determined that there is sufficient evidence [...] On my watch, no one is above the law, and everyone deserves justice," Carmack-Altwies added, via BBC.
Baldwin has since spoken out about the charges, releasing a statement through his lawyer Luke Nikas, who stated that they "distort Halyna Hutchins' tragic death and represents a terrible miscarriage of justice," per Sky News.
"Mr Baldwin had no reason to believe there was a live bullet in the gun - or anywhere on the movie set. He relied on the professionals with whom he worked, who assured him the gun did not have live rounds," he said. "We will fight these charges, and we will win."
Hutchins' family have welcomed the charges, commenting on how they believed Baldwin had shown "conscious disregard for human life."
In an interview with ABC in the wake of the 2021 incident, Baldwin stated that he did not pull the trigger, and that the assistant director had shouted "cold gun," before handing the father-of-seven the weapon - given this, Baldwin stated he believed the gun to be empty. "The trigger wasn't pulled. I didn't pull the trigger," Baldwin stated during the interview.
"I would never point a gun at anyone and pull the trigger at them. Never," he added.
When the case goes to trial, jurors will be asked whether they believe Baldwin and Gutierrez-Reed to be guilty. If they do, they must choose between two legal definitions of involutary manslaughter, Court TV detailed.
According to the outlet, each is punishable by up to 18 months in jail and a $5,000 fine. However, a firearm enhancement accompanying one definition would be punishable by a mandatory five years in jail.
As for when Baldwin is expected in court, that is yet to be announced.