Actor Alec Baldwin has vowed to fight the involuntary manslaughter charges against him in the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, calling them a “terrible miscarriage of justice”.
The charges against him and He Rust armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, announced today by prosecutors in New Mexico, will be filed against him by the end of the month.
“This decision distorts Halyna Hutchins’ tragic death and represents a terrible miscarriage of justice,” Baldwin’s attorney said in a statement.
“Mr. Baldwin had no reason to believe there was a live bullet in the gun — or anywhere on the movie set,” the statement added.
“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.”
Gutierrez-Reed’s lawyers issued a similar statement.
Prosecutors, however, say they are confident with the decision.
“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,” said Andrea Reeb, the special prosecutor appointed by the DA to the case.
Both Baldwin and Gutierrez-Reed face a maximum of 18 months in prison if convicted.
