Decision on criminal charges over deadly 'Rust' film shooting is set to be announced today, prosecutors say - CNN

CNN  — 

Prosecutors accidental they are acceptable to denote whether transgression charges volition beryllium filed implicit the 2021 fatal movie acceptable shooting of a cinematographer that progressive histrion Alec Baldwin and different members of the film’s production.

Mary Carmack-Altwies, territory lawyer for New Mexico’s archetypal judicial district, and peculiar authoritative Andrea Reeb volition disclose their determination successful a written connection Thursday morning, according to Carmack-Altwies’ office.

“Regardless of the District Attorney’s decision, the announcement volition beryllium a solemn occasion, made successful a mode keeping with the office’s committedness to upholding the integrity of the judicial process and respecting the victim’s family,” said Heather Brewer, spokesperson for the office.

The shooting of 2 movie unit members by Baldwin during a rehearsal of the Western movie “Rust” successful New Mexico successful October 2021 has resulted successful a whirlwind of finger-pointing and allegations of negligence from those involved.

Film cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was struck and killed by a live round of ammunition fired from a prop weapon being held by Baldwin, who maintains helium did not propulsion the gun’s trigger. Director Joel Souza was besides injured.

In the summary of the postmortem investigation into Hutchins’ decease – which was formally signed by the New Mexico main aesculapian researcher – the origin of decease is listed arsenic “gunshot coiled of chest,” and the mode of decease is listed arsenic an “accident.”

“Review of disposable instrumentality enforcement reports showed nary compelling objection that the firearm was intentionally loaded with unrecorded ammunition connected set. Based connected each disposable information, including the lack of evident intent to origin harm oregon death, the mode of decease is champion classified arsenic accident,” the study concluded.

An FBI forensics study said the limb could not beryllium fired during FBI investigating of its mean functioning without pulling the trigger portion the weapon was cocked. The study besides noted the weapon yet malfunctioned during investigating aft interior parts fractured, which caused the weapon to spell disconnected successful the cocked presumption without pulling the trigger.

In an interrogation with CNN successful August, Baldwin placed responsibility for the calamity connected Hannah Gutierrez Reed, who served arsenic the armorer and props adjunct connected the film, and adjunct manager Dave Halls, who handed him the gun. In November, Baldwin filed suit against the 2 and different individuals associated with the film, according to a cross-complaint obtained by CNN.

Through their respective attorneys, some Gutierrez Reed and Halls maintained they were not astatine responsibility and accused Baldwin of deflecting blasted onto others. Gutierrez Reed besides sued the movie’s weapon and ammunition supplier and its laminitis – who contradict wrongdoing – and alleged a cache of dummy ammunition was sold with unrecorded rounds mixed in.

In October, Hutchins’ household reached an undisclosed settlement successful a wrongful decease suit filed against Baldwin and others progressive successful producing the film.

Matthew Hutchins, widower of Halyna Hutchins, described her decease arsenic a “terrible accident” successful a connection astatine the clip of the settlement. Production connected “Rust” was to resume this period with Matthew Hutchins joining arsenic an enforcement shaper connected the movie arsenic portion of the agreement.