Alec Baldwin pleads not guilty to ‘Rust’ shooting charge, waives arraignment
Alec Baldwin pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter once again Wednesday for the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of “Rust.”
The actor entered the plea in a court filing in which he waived his right to an arraignment that was scheduled for Thursday.
Baldwin was indicted by a grand jury in New Mexico on Jan. 19 for the on-set shooting in 2021.
Hutchins was struck and killed by a .45 bullet from an antique six-shooter Baldwin was aiming during filming for the Western in October of that year.
The gun was real — not a prop — but should have been loaded with dummy rounds.
Baldwin, who starred in the film and was also an executive producer, maintained that he never pulled the trigger. But the FBI ruled that the revolver couldn’t have fired without the trigger being pulled.
The actor was previously charged with the same crime by the Santa Fe district attorney in January 2022.
He also pleaded not guilty then but the case ultimately fell apart and the charges were dropped in April that year after the court determined further testing was needed on the firearm that killed Hutchins, a 42-year-old married mom of one.
Still, the DA was clear that it was not an end to the case at the time and that future charges could follow.
Prosecutors have also charged 27-year-old “Rust” armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, who oversaw the weapons on the movie set, with the same crime. She pleaded not guilty and is awaiting trial.
If convicted, Baldwin could face 18 months in prison.
Filming for “Rust” continued in Montana in April of last year and wrapped up the following month.
