Prosecutor Asks Judge to Reinstate Alec Baldwin’s ‘Rust’ Case

A New Mexico prosecutor has asked a judge to reinstate the case against actor Alec Baldwin related to a fatal shooting on the set of the movie Rust.

On Wednesday, court documents revealed that special prosecutor Kari Morrissey filed a motion to Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer that asked her to consider reinstating the case against Baldwin, following its dismissal earlier this summer.

Morrissey stated there were insufficient facts to support the state district court’s ruling and found no violation of Baldwin’s due process rights.

On July 12, Sommer ruled to dismiss the involuntary manslaughter charge against Baldwin for the 2021 shooting that claimed the life of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. The case was to determine if he could be held responsible for being the person who fired the revolver during a rehearsal for the film. Sommer cited police and prosecutor misconduct behind the dismissal, saying they withheld evidence from the defense.

The judge dismissed the case against Baldwin with prejudice, which means that the case cannot be reinstated once all appeals are used.

Baldwin, the lead actor and co-producer of Rust, was reportedly pointing a gun at Hutchins during a rehearsal when it discharged, killing her and injuring director Joel Souza. Baldwin has maintained that he pulled back the hammer but did not pull the trigger when the revolver fired.

The pivotal evidence was ammunition brought to the sheriff’s office in March by a man who claimed it was linked to Hutchins’ death. Prosecutors dismissed the ammo as irrelevant, but Baldwin’s lawyers accused them of “burying” it and filed a motion to dismiss the case.

After the case was dismissed in July, Baldwin shared a message on social media where he thanked supporters and fans.

“There are too many people who have supported me to thank just now,” Baldwin wrote on Instagram on Saturday, July 13. “To all of you, you will never know how much I appreciate your kindness toward my family.”

Meanwhile, Rust armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed is serving an 18-month sentence after being convicted of involuntary manslaughter. She was accused of violating standard safety protocols and missing several chances to identify prohibited live ammunition on set. Assistant director and safety coordinator David Halls pleaded no contest to negligent use of a deadly weapon.

Prosecutors have alleged that Gutierrez-Reed brought live rounds to the set of Rust, but that has never been officially determined.

This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.