The conclusion of the criminal case against Alec Baldwin in the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins has cleared the path for a related civil lawsuit by her family, which will now proceed with efforts to depose Baldwin under oath. Hutchins’ parents and younger sister, represented by victims’ rights attorney Gloria Allred, expressed their disappointment that prosecutors will not appeal the dismissal of an involuntary manslaughter charge against Baldwin. The charge was dropped midway through the trial in July due to allegations that police and prosecutors had withheld evidence from the defense.
Hutchins tragically died after being struck by a bullet during a rehearsal for the movie Rust in October 2021 on a film set in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Baldwin, who was both the lead actor and co-producer, was pointing a pistol at Hutchins when the gun discharged, killing her and wounding director Joel Souza. Baldwin has stated that he pulled back the hammer but did not pull the trigger, leading to the gun firing.
At a news conference in Los Angeles, Allred announced that Hutchins’ relatives were determined to pursue civil damages and compensation from Baldwin and the producers of Rust in New Mexico’s civil court. The family seeks to have Baldwin answer questions under oath as part of the civil proceedings. Hutchins’ widower and son had previously reached a separate legal settlement.
“Allred said, “With the withdrawal that was made public yesterday, we are now able to proceed with our civil case. Clearly, the rights of Alec Baldwin were protected, but the due process rights of the victims — Halyna Hutchins and her parents and her sister — were violated.”
In November, Baldwin’s legal team denied allegations of negligence or fault in Hutchins’ death and requested that the civil case be suspended. A judge sentenced movie weapons supervisor Hannah Gutierrez-Reed to 1 ½ years in prison on an involuntary manslaughter conviction for her role in the incident.
Allred also condemned New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez for choosing not to appeal the dismissal of the criminal charge against Baldwin. At a Christmas Eve press conference, she referred to Torrez as “the Grinch who stole Christmas.”
Torrez’s spokesperson, Lauren Rodriguez, defended the decision, citing “significant procedural irregularities” identified by the judge in the criminal case. “Attorney General Torrez will not prolong the grief and anguish of Ms. Hutchins’ family in the vain attempt to salvage the compromised criminal case against Mr. Baldwin,” Rodriguez stated. “There are other victims’ families in Santa Fe County and across New Mexico who are awaiting justice, and our energy needs to be devoted to supporting those cases on appeal.”