The involuntary manslaughter case against Alec Baldwin, stemming from the tragic shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of Rust, is officially over. On Monday, the Santa Fe District Attorney’s Office announced that special prosecutor Kari Morrissey withdrew the state’s notice of appeal challenging the dismissal of charges against Baldwin.
“The appeal would have challenged the Court’s dismissal of criminal charges against Producer and Actor Alec Baldwin, which included involuntary manslaughter,” the DA’s office stated. The charges had been linked to the October 21, 2021, shooting that claimed Hutchins’ life during the film’s production.
The decision affirms a July ruling by Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer to dismiss the case with prejudice, citing evidence withheld by police and prosecutors. This dismissal ensures Baldwin cannot face the same charges again. At the time, Sommer called the prosecution’s conduct “intentional and deliberate,” stating, “There is no way for the court to right this wrong.”
Baldwin’s attorneys, Alex Spiro and Luke Nikas, responded to the withdrawal of the appeal with a statement to The Hollywood Reporter, saying, “Today’s decision to dismiss the appeal is the final vindication of what Alec Baldwin and his attorneys have said from the beginning — this was an unspeakable tragedy, but Alec Baldwin committed no crime. The rule of law remains intact in New Mexico.”
The case was marked by controversy from the start, with the defense accusing the state of concealing evidence, including details about the source of live ammunition found on the set. Defense attorney Luke Nikas alleged that prop distributor Seth Kenney was the supplier of the live rounds, a claim prosecutors disputed. Morrissey testified that she believed the ammunition in question, which originated from Arizona, was not relevant to the case because it never entered New Mexico or matched the live rounds used on set.
Halyna Hutchins was fatally shot, and director Joel Souza was injured when a revolver Baldwin was holding discharged a live round during a rehearsal. Armorer Hannah Gutierrez Reed was convicted of loading a live round into the weapon, which she maintains was an accident.
The trial, which opened with intense scrutiny of the evidence, took an unexpected turn when Morrissey’s co-counsel, Erlinda Ocampo Johnson, resigned abruptly. The court held a hearing that ultimately led to Morrissey testifying in her own case. Despite her disappointment in the court’s dismissal, Morrissey told reporters she respected the decision, even though she felt the defense misconstrued the evidence.
With the case against Baldwin now closed, the focus shifts to the broader questions of accountability and safety on film sets, as Hutchins’ death continues to cast a shadow over Hollywood.
What a travesty of justice, and none for the family….negligent Homicide at he least in my opinion. The left takes care of their own.
He committed a crime. NM botched the investigation. The state needs to be investigated and people need to be fired.
Well that’s typical New Mexico fashion. Murders getting away with murder. Small punishments for heinously defiling children and 0 punishments for those who commit murder…no wonder Epstein chose this state.
I wonder how much Alec “murderer” Baldwin had to donate to the democrat/communofascist party to have them drop the appeal?
This state is a clownshow.
Hopefully he losses the law suit.
At present we live under a 2 tiered system of justice that favors DemoncRATs by a landslide, so no one should be at all surprised by this outcome. I had a vague hope that he & his phony “Spanish” wife are so vile & unlikeable that he might be expendable & thrown under the bus since the left will do that on occasion (think Biden & Harris) but apparently not.
of course it was with the idiot’s we have ruining this state. Give me a break.
What else did anyone expect?
New Mexico legal system is last in justice… First in stupidity.
Prove me wrong.
Secede Lea County. This state is always last in the good things and first in the worst things. New Mexico subsidies the Hollywood ilke to work here
There was never any doubt that he would walk. With the perv dwarf in Santa Fe kissing Hollywood ass to lure movie pervs to film here the “walk” was guaranteed. (Not) looking forward to the next travesty film related incident.
This is the BS that New Mexicans except, rules for the but not me. We are last or almost last in the majority of good governance, I guess we can add some of our police in the same category. It is time folks started standing up for themselves and there families and vote with there values, conservatively. I hope the girls family is suing him. Not sure how live rounds were on the set any way any how. I would give the security folks live rounds but not in the chamber that was used on the set. Idiots need to pay somehow. Maybe castration so they do not breed more idiots, oh too late! He already has kids he mistreats.