A U.S. prosecutor investigating the fatal shooting on the set of Alec Baldwin’s movie “Rust” will announce his decision Thursday on whether to indict the actor.
Baldwin was holding the baby. In October 2021, during a rehearsal for the film, it discharged, killing cinematographer Helena Hutchins and injuring director Joel Souza.
The former “30 Rock” star has insisted that he was told by staff that the gun was not loaded.
He has previously said he did not pull the trigger, although experts have cast doubt on that claim.
A lengthy investigation looked into how the live round — and five others — ended up on the New Mexico film set, which focused on an armorer and ammunition supplier.
Investigators discovered that the armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reid, had put the fatal round in Baldwin’s gun, instead of using a dummy round that looked identical.
Mary Cormack Alvez, the district attorney for the part of New Mexico where the film was shot, and Andrea Reb, the special prosecutor assigned to investigate the case, will announce their decision on Thursday, a statement said.
It comes more than two months after the county sheriff’s office filed its report into the incident.
Authorities said last year that four people, including Baldwin, could face charges.
“Regardless of the district attorney’s decision, this announcement will be a solemn occasion, keeping in mind the office’s commitment to maintaining the integrity of the judicial process and respecting the victim’s family,” a DA’s office spokesperson said. will go.”
In August, Baldwin said he did not believe he would be charged, telling CNN that he had hired a private investigator to assess a possible culprit.
A raft of civil suits have been filed in the months since Hitchens’ death, suing and countersuing various staffers.
In October, Baldwin reached an undisclosed settlement with the family of Hutchins, 42.
It was also announced at the time that the low-budget film would resume production this year.
Widower Matthew Hutchins, who will become an executive producer, said that “all the original principal players” will return to the set.
“Zing” director Souza said he would dedicate his work on the film to “honoring Helena’s legacy and making her proud.”
“Although certainly bittersweet, I am happy that we will now finish together what Halina and I started,” he said.