A New Mexico grand jury has charged Alec Baldwin with involuntary manslaughter in connection to the unfortunate and tragic shooting on the set of Rust over two years ago that took the life of the cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. Numerous supporters argue that the prolonged duration of the case does not align with their belief that the actor bears no responsibility, emphasizing the perspective that this was a props-related issue.
Why is Alec Baldwin Being Charged Again?
Exactly one year after the announcement of the first involuntary manslaughter case against Alec Baldwin, he is facing a new indictment, for which he could face up to 18 months in prison. Although the first case and the charges against the actor were dropped last April, citing the possibility of the firearm being altered before the shooting, leading to a malfunction.
However, a new prosecution team, Kari T. Morrissey and Jason J. Lewis chose to bring the case before a grand jury, leading to Baldwin’s indictment on Friday following a new examination of the weapon. A report by AP News stated,
“Although Alec Baldwin repeatedly denies pulling the trigger, given the tests, findings and observations reported here, the trigger had to be pulled or depressed sufficiently to release the fully cocked or retracted hammer of the evidence revolver.”
In addition to this, co-producers of the film along with the actor are also dealing with civil lawsuits which are temporarily put on halt to prioritize the ongoing complicated criminal proceedings, seeking financial compensation, filed by members of the Rust crew. Meanwhile, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the weapons supervisor for Rust, faces charges of involuntary manslaughter and evidence tampering, with her trial set for February.
Also Read: Studio’s Past Debt To Harrison Ford Robbed Alec Baldwin’s James Bond-esque Career
Was It Alec Baldwin’s Fault? Many Are in Support Of the Star!
A group of 12 jurors began reviewing the case at the First Judicial District Court in Santa Fe, New Mexico, starting on Thursday. Although Alec Baldwin has consistently claimed he didn’t pull the trigger but merely pulled back the gun’s hammer before the shot, recent findings challenge this account. Online, many individuals firmly support the actor during this challenging period, deeming the entire situation quite bewildering.
Here are some fan reactions to the news,
Unfortunate loss of life, but it wasn’t Alec’s job to ensure it wasn’t more than a prop
It’s ludicrous that he’s still being attacked on this. I’m no fan specifically of his work, but I’ve followed enough of this since the tragedy that I can comfortably say this is stupid…
— MFH™ (@ManyFacedHeel) January 19, 2024
That’s insane they can’t settle this once and for all.
— Content For All (@ContentForAll) January 19, 2024
I don’t get how this is his fault. If you’re shooting a movie, the entire point of the damn film is that it’s fictional. So why was there a real gun on set? It makes no sense to me, and why it irks me when people whine about cgi. They could’ve used a fake gun and used a vfx shot,…
— Cristian Paez Jr (@iamchrispaezjr) January 19, 2024
But who brought the bullets on set? That’s what needs investigating. Indicting Alec Baldwin is a waste of time and money.
— Eric Pellinen (@EricPellinen) January 19, 2024
A freak accident. Out of his control. They dragging this man for too long. They need to heal. I dunno what they think locking him up would do.
— SIKORA (@iamsikora) January 19, 2024
The trial is still going on?
— joey (@Fan_FlickOn) January 19, 2024
Despite the frustration of many that the case is taking a long time, Baldwin is receiving much-needed support online after being charged. Whether he is responsible or not is a tricky question, considering different perspectives in the story. Only time will reveal how this situation unfolds. The film’s production has concluded, serving as a tribute to Ms. Hutchins, yet there is currently no information available regarding its release.
