![[UPDATE] 'Rust' Shooting: Alec Baldwin Faces Potential New Charges as Case Heads Back to Grand Jury](https://d.hngn.com/en/full/282489/update-rust-shooting-alec-baldwin-faces-potential-new-charges-case-heads-back-grand-jury.jpg?w=830&f=27daf77c7806907c8767af23659f2da0)
Hollywood actor Alec Baldwin could face potential new charges as the 2021 'Rust' shooting that led to the death of Halyna Hutchins goes back to a grand jury.
In a statement, special prosecutors Kari Morrissey and Jason Lewis said that following an extensive investigation conducted over the last few months, they have uncovered new facts that they claim show Baldwin has criminal culpability in the death of the cinematographer as well as the shooting of Joel Souza, the director of the film.
Tragic "Rust" Shooting
The two added that they believe the appropriate course of action is to permit a panel of New Mexico citizens to determine whether or not Baldwin should be held over for criminal trial. On the other hand, the actor's lawyers, Luke Nikas and Alex Spiro of Quinn Emanuel said it was unfortunate that a tragedy was now being turned into a misguided prosecution.
Lewis and Morrissey plan to present their case to a grand jury in the next two months and that panel will be responsible for determining whether or not probable cause exists to bind Baldwin on criminal charges related to the shooting, as per Fox News.
The actor was initially charged with involuntary manslaughter in January, which came more than a year after Hutchins was fatally shot on the Western film set, which Baldwin starred in and produced.
Later in April, the criminal charges against the Hollywood star were dismissed after special prosecutors cited that further investigation and forensic analysis required would not be finished before a preliminary hearing scheduled for May.
The incident revolves around the fatal shooting of cinematographer Hutchins and the shooting of Souza, which resulted in injury from a bullet that was shot by a weapon Baldwin was holding during a rehearsal of a scene inside a church on Oct. 21, 2021. The actor has repeatedly denied that he pulled the gun trigger that killed Hutchins.
New Development
Other than Baldwin, armorer Hannah Gutierrez was also accused of involuntary manslaughter, and charges against her were filed in the case, with her pleading not guilty to the allegations. David Halls, the assistant director of the film, was identified as the person who gave the firearm to Baldwin on the day of the shooting, according to CNN.
Prosecutors said Halls signed an agreement earlier this year "for the charge of negligent use of a deadly weapon." They noted that the terms of the deal would hand out six months of probation for the assistant director.
The latest development included remarks by Morrissey, who said that the forensic testing of the firearm in the case concluded with certainty that the trigger had to have been pulled for it to go off.
The basis for the announcement on Tuesday was a detailed analysis conducted by a forensic gun expert the prosecutors hired. It was noted that Baldwin would have had to put pressure on the trigger for the firearm to go off, said the New York Times.
