Halyna Hutchins' family has come out in support of the recent criminal charges made against actor Alec Baldwin and armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed more than a year after Hutchins was shot dead on set of the movie Rust.
On October 21, 2021, 42-year-old cinematographer Hutchins was fatally shot after a prop gun, which Baldwin was holding at the time, was discharged. Director Joel Souza was also injured in the accident. The gun used during the incident contained live rounds.
In October last year, Baldwin - who is a producer and actor in the movie - as well as other producers on the film settled a wrongful death lawsuit filed by Hutchins' widower Matthew.
Now, the SNL star, 64, and Gutierrez-Reed, 25, have been charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter.
The charges, which will be formally filed nearer the end of the month, were announced by Santa Fe County District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies and special prosecutor Andrea Reeb.
In a statement obtained by People, Brian J. Panish - an attorney for the Hutchins family - said on behalf of the family: "We want to thank the Santa Fe Sheriff and the District Attorney for concluding their thorough investigation and determining that charges for involuntary manslaughter are warranted for the killing of Halyna Hutchins with conscious disregard for human life."
"Our independent investigation also supports charges are warranted. It is a comfort to the family that, in New Mexico, no one is above the law," Panish added. "We support the charges, will fully cooperate with this prosecution and fervently hope the justice system works to protect the public and hold accountable those who break the law."
Assistant director David Halls signed a plea agreement for the charge of negligent use of a deadly weapon, per a statement released by Carmack-Altwies and Reeb.
"After a thorough review of the evidence and the laws of the state of New Mexico, I have determined that there is sufficient evidence to file criminal charges against Alec Baldwin and other members of the Rust film crew," Carmack-Altwies said in the statement. "On my watch, no one is above the law, and everyone deserves justice."
Reeb added: "If any one of these three people — Alec Baldwin, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed or David Halls — had done their job, Halyna Hutchins would be alive today. It's that simple.
"The evidence clearly shows a pattern of criminal disregard for safety on the Rust film set. In New Mexico, there is no room for film sets that don't take our state's commitment to gun safety and public safety seriously."
Baldwin's attorney Luke Nikas of Quinn Emanuel responded to the charges in a statement on Thursday, saying: "This decision distorts Halyna Hutchins' tragic death and represents a terrible miscarriage of justice.
"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. We will fight these charges, and we will win."
Jason Bowles and Todd J. Bullion, Gutierrez-Reed's attorneys, said in a statement: "Hannah is, and has always been, very emotional and sad about this tragic accident. But she did not commit involuntary manslaughter.
"These charges are the result of a very flawed investigation, and an inaccurate understanding of the full facts. We intend to bring the full truth to light and believe Hannah will be exonerated of wrongdoing by a jury."