2 Feb – Actor-producer Alec Baldwin has been officially charged with involuntary manslaughter on the 2021 fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of his movie, "Rust". Halyna Hutchins died on the set of 'Rust' in Santa Fe, New Mexico after Baldwin, who was also a producer of the film, fired a prop gun during rehearsals. The movie's armourer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed was also indicted on a charge of involuntary manslaughter. According to the formal filing, prosecutors claimed that Baldwin did not take firearm training seriously and was on the phone to his family during training.
"On the day of the shooting alone, evidence shows that no less than a dozen acts, or omissions of recklessness, occurred in the short time prior to lunch and the time of the shooting, and this does not include the reckless handling of the firearm by Baldwin," read the statement. "Baldwin, by act or omission or failure to act in his position as a producer directly contributed and/or failed to mitigate numerous reckless and dangerous actions during a very short time period." Baldwin's attorneys have no comment for the time being. If found guilty, Baldwin and Gutierrez-Reed could be jailed for 18 months and fined as much as USD 5,000.