Too Many People to Thank

Alec Baldwin expressed his gratitude on Instagram this Saturday, stating, “There are too many people who have supported me to thank just now,” after the unexpected dismissal of his manslaughter trial on Friday. He added, “To all of you, you will never know how much I appreciate your kindness toward my family.”

Baldwin faced trial over the tragic incident involving the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins in October 2021 during the filming of the western movie “Rust,” a production he starred in and produced. Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer granted the defense’s request to dismiss the case after it was revealed that authorities and prosecutors had intentionally withheld evidence. The question of how real bullets ended up in Baldwin’s gun remains unanswered.

“The state’s discovery violation has injected a needless incurable delay into the jury trial. Dismissal with prejudice is warranted to ensure the integrity of the judicial system and the efficient administration of justice,” explained the judge.

Although Baldwin has cleared the criminal charges, he is still entangled in civil lawsuits related to Hutchins’ death. Hutchins lost her life when the prop gun Baldwin used discharged a live round during rehearsals.

Attorney Gloria Allred, representing Hutchins’ parents Olga Solovey and Anatolii Androsovych along with her sister Svetlana Zemko, vowed to continue pursuing Baldwin in New Mexico’s civil courts. She described Judge Sommer’s decision as a “devastating blow” to the family.

“It does not change the fact that Alec Baldwin killed Halyna Hutchins on the set of ‘Rust.’ It does not change the fact that he fired a loaded gun while pointing it at a human being,” Allred asserted.

She added that Baldwin should “just have the human decency to say ‘I’m sorry’ in a phone call or Facetime to the parents … It’s not all about Alec Baldwin. There are victims in this case. They are not celebrities—they matter.”

After the dismissal, Brian J. Panish, who represents Hutchins’ husband Matthew Hutchins, stated, “We respect the court’s decision. 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.”

Controversy surrounds the production of “Rust,” where producers, including Baldwin, faced criticism for replacing workers with non-union members during filming. Unionized members would have had to comply with the Actors’ Equity Association’s guidelines and safety procedures for using firearms in productions.

These rules advise that actors should “Treat all guns as if they are loaded and deadly,” and that “The property master or armorer should carefully train you in the safe use of any firearm you must handle. Be honest if you have no knowledge about guns. Do not overstate your qualifications.” It remains unclear whether Baldwin had any prior training or if training was provided on the set.

Additional guidelines from the Actors’ Equity Association stress, “Never point a firearm at anyone including yourself,” and, “Always cheat the shot by aiming to the right or left of the target character. If asked to point and shoot directly at a living target, consult with the property master or armorer for the prescribed safety procedures.”

If convicted, Baldwin could have faced up to 18 months in prison.