The criminal prosecution of actor Alec Baldwin in the fatal shooting incident on the set of the movie “Rust” has collapsed, exposing a series of errors and missteps by New Mexico state officials. Baldwin was charged with involuntary manslaughter for accidentally shooting cinematographer Halyna Hutchins during a scene preparation with a prop gun. The charges were dismissed by New Mexico First Judicial District Court Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer following a hearing that revealed potential evidence had been concealed by Santa Fe County deputies and the special prosecutor, Kari T. Morrissey.
Legal experts had previously expressed concerns about charging Baldwin with involuntary manslaughter, as it was a risky move given the circumstances of the incident. Baldwin had been incorrectly informed that the prop gun contained no live ammunition. Defense attorneys argued that crucial questions regarding the origin of the live rounds used in the shooting remained unanswered.
The case was plagued by a series of mistakes from the beginning. Santa Fe County sheriff’s deputies, who arrived at the Bonanza Creek Ranch movie location, were shocked by the tragic event. The investigation that followed failed to provide a clear answer regarding the source of the live rounds. Mistakes were made by the sheriff’s detectives, including the disposal of bullets from other actors’ weapons and the delayed search of the “Rust” prop truck, which held guns and ammunition. Detectives also took a month to obtain a warrant to search the prop house of weapons and ammunition provider Seth Kenney.
The prosecution’s handling of the case further exacerbated the problems. Emails between the district attorney and the special prosecutor revealed potential political motivations, as the special prosecutor had joked about the case boosting her state House campaign. In January 2023, prosecutors made a critical error by adding a “gun enhancement” charge that was not applicable at the time of the shooting, forcing them to scale back the charges. The subsequent resignation of the district attorney and the appointment of Morrissey as the new prosecutor added to the turmoil.
During the trial, Baldwin’s defense team successfully redirected the focus away from Baldwin’s potential involvement in pulling the trigger and highlighted the investigation’s failures in determining the origin of the live rounds. The case took a dramatic turn when a retired police officer, Troy Teske, turned over a bag of bullets to the Sheriff’s Office, which had not been disclosed to the defense. The judge, Marlowe Sommer, expressed her outrage at the potential evidence being concealed and dismissed the charges against Baldwin.
The collapse of the criminal case against Baldwin has left legal experts stunned, with many criticizing the prosecution’s handling of the investigation and subsequent trial. The fallout from the “Rust” shooting is far from over, as civil lawsuits against Baldwin and the movie’s producers remain unresolved. The dismissal of the criminal charges does not absolve Baldwin of responsibility, according to the victim’s family and their legal representatives.
