Alec Baldwin Breaks Down in Tears, Celebrates After 'Rust' Case Gets Dismissed (UPDATE)
The actor was tried for involuntary manslaughter, in connection with the 2021 fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the western film.
UPDATED 7/13, 4:08 p.m. ET: The day after his Rust case was dismissed, actor Alec Baldwin went online to express his gratitude.
On Saturday afternoon, July 13, the 66-year-old posted an image of himself in court on Instagram and thanked his fans for their support. Baldwin had been on trial for involuntary manslaughter for the 2021 fatal shooting of Rust cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.
"There are too many people who have supported me to thank just now," he wrote. "To all of you, you will never know how much I appreciate your kindness toward my family."
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Alec Baldwin is celebrating this weekend after his involuntary manslaughter case, connected to the tragic shooting that took place on the film set of Rust, was dismissed Friday afternoon.
On Friday, July 12, Santa Fe Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer dismissed the case prior to what was expected to be a two-week trial. The case was set to determine whether Baldwin was criminally liable for the 2021 fatal shooting of Rust cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. The 42-year-old was killed on set after Baldwin shot her, discharging a Pietta .45 Colt revolver, which was being used as a prop.
Footage from the hearing shows Baldwin getting emotional and breaking down in tears as he listens to Judge Sommer read her decision to dismiss the case.
"The late discovery of this evidence has impacted the fundamental fairness of the proceedings," Judge Sommer stated in her case dismissal. "There is no way for the court to right this wrong. The sanction of dismissal is the only warranted remedy."
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Sommer's decision follows a motion to have the case dismissed by the actor's legal team, who claimed that prosecutors and Santa Fe sheriffs failed to provide evidence to the defense. This evidence included a collection of live ammunition and bullets, neither of which were recorded as part of the case.
Unlike Baldwin, the weapon armorer for Rust, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter and sentenced to 18 months in April for the death of Hutchins.
According to TMZ, the actor celebrated his court win with his attorney, friends, and family at the El Dorado hotel bar in New Mexico before the group enjoyed Mexican food. Baldwin's production team, who is currently creating a documentary about the Rust on-set tragedy, also attended the celebration.
The cinematographer's widow, Matthew Hutchins, who sued Baldwin and Rust producers for wrongful death in 2022, has re-opened his case due to alleged missed payments.
"We respect the court’s decision," Hutchins' attorney Brian Panish stated on Friday. "We look forward to presenting all the evidence to a jury and holding Mr. Baldwin accountable for his actions in the senseless death of Halyna Hutchins."
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