Prosecutor Wants Judge To Reinstate Alec Baldwin’s ‘Rust’ Charges

One prosecutor still wants to see Alec Baldwin behind bars for the fatal October 2021 shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of "Rust."

The 66-year-old actor had been charged with involuntary manslaughter along with armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, who is currently serving 18 months behind bars.

Even though a judge dismissed the charges against Alec Baldwin with prejudice, a prosecutor wants the judge to reconsider.

According to a court filing made public on Wednesday, a prosecutor asked New Mexico Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer to reconsider the charges to dismiss the involuntary manslaughter charges against Alec Baldwin with prejudice, which means he can no longer be held criminally responsible for her death. He is, however, still facing multiple civil lawsuits related to the case.

In July 2024, the judge dismissed charges against the actor after she concluded that the prosecution had worked with law enforcement to bury evidence related to the "Rust" case. Special prosecutor Kari T. Morrissey insisted that there were not enough facts to support the ruling in district state court and that Baldwin's rights were not violated, as per The Guardian.

Shortly after the charges against Baldwin were dismissed, the “30 Rock” actor took to Instagram to thank fans for their support. "There are too many people who have supported me to thank just now," he wrote in the caption alongside a photo of him looking somber during the trial. "To all of you, you will never know how much I appreciate your kindness toward my family."

Many fans felt that the charges against Baldwin should never have been brought. "They never should have charged him with anything. When an actor is provided with a weapon--normally a 'prop' -- the actor assumes all is OK and doesn't stop to examine the 'weapon' to see if it is 'loaded' or not," one fan commented. "It was pure stubbornness on the part of the New Mexico D.A. why this unbelievable and shocking case was brought to trial disrupting Mr. Baldwin's and his loving family's lives for years to come, if at all!"

Although some fans want to see the actor behind bars for his role in the fatal shooting, others think that the "Rust" drama should be left in the past. "How many people did John Wayne point guns at in his 60-year film career?? Clint Eastwood?? You think they broke open every single weapon every single time and questioned the executive assistant, or armorer or whoever was in charge of the props on set in every single movie that they made every single time?? Are you serious??" another fan asked in the comments of Baldwin's post.

"It’s not an excuse, but it is just a fact that movies are made to be on time and need to be made on budget. That’s why these people are hired in the first place layers of security to protect the actors from the actors. The actors are there to ACT. Cameramen are in charge of the cameras. Set decorators are responsible for dressing the set. Horse wranglers are in charge of the horses. Prop Masters are in charge of the props, on and on and on," they continued. "This case never should’ve been brought, and my condolences go out to not only the Hutchins' family but the Baldwin’s as well, who have been put through a completely different kind of hell for the last three years. Thank God for them this is finally over. At least I hope so."

As The Blast previously reported, last month, director Quentin Tarantino discussed the "Rust" shooting on Sunday's episode of the Club Random post.

“It's a situation, I think I'm being fair enough to say, that the armorer  — the guy who handles the gun — is 90% responsible for everything that happens when it comes to that gun... but but but but but.... the actor is 10% responsible,” the “Pulp Fiction” director stated, adding, "You are a partner in responsibility to some degree."

In January 2024, after charges were refiled against the actor, SAG-AFTRA released a statement on their website making it clear that anyone stating that actors have a responsibility to check firearms is "an incorrect assessment of the actual duties of an actor on set."

“An actor’s job is not to be a firearms or weapons expert," they wrote at the time. "Firearms are provided for use on set under the guidance of multiple expert professionals directly responsible for the safe and accurate operation of that firearm.”