Alec Baldwin was accused of involuntary manslaughter in the shooting death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins in 2021 while the Western film "Rust" was being filmed, but New Mexico prosecutors announced on Thursday that they will withdraw the allegations.
According to a person familiar with the inquiry, the choice was made after fresh information on the firearm Baldwin was holding and the live round it fired that killed Hutchins emerged.
Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, who handled the firearms for the movie, was also charged with involuntary manslaughter in the incident, and her prosecution will go on, according to state prosecutors.
"New facts were revealed that demand further investigation and forensic analysis," special prosecutors Kari Morrissey and Jason Lewis said. "We will therefore be dismissing the involuntary manslaughter charges against Mr. Baldwin."
"This decision does not absolve Mr. Baldwin of criminal culpability and charges may be refiled," they added.
Baldwin and the rest of the cast started filming the movie in Montana on the day the 18-month-old case took a dramatic turn, Reuters reported.
Charges against Baldwin were dropped earlier on Thursday, as stated by their attorneys Luke Nikas and Alex Spiro, which was later confirmed by prosecutors.
Baldwin said on Instagram on Thursday, with a photo of himself and his wife Hilaria Baldwin, "I owe everything I have to this woman (and to you, Luke)."
Two counts of involuntary manslaughter were brought against Baldwin, 65, and Gutierrez-Reed, 25, in January for the shooting on set outside of Santa Fe, New Mexico, on October 21, 2021. Baldwin was practicing with a Colt.45 handgun when a round was discharged, killing Hutchins and injuring director Joel Souza.
When Hutchins died, Baldwin was initially charged with having a "reckless" disregard for safety. Minutes before the pistol fired the live cartridge, according to the prosecution, a video showed him with his finger on the trigger.
Baldwin claims he was assured the pistol was "cold," a word used in the business to denote the absence of explosive ammo, and he never pulled the trigger.
In a statement on Thursday, Gutierrez-Reed's lawyers Jason Bowles and Todd Bullion said, "We fully expect at the end of this process that Hannah will also be exonerated."
"It definitely was modified, which compromises the whole argument that the gun was in fully functioning operating form and could only have fired if Baldwin pulled the trigger," the person said.
The way that lives ammunition got into the set has not been able to be ascertained by investigators.
According to the person with knowledge of the matter, after evidence viewing in the case last week, new information revealed that the replica long Colt.45 "Peacemaker" revolver Baldwin was using had parts added to it since its manufacturing by Italian gunmaker Pietta.
The most serious indictment against the defendants was withdrawn in February, and two prosecutors were forced to resign as a result of the state's prosecution being plagued by legal mistakes.
Dave Halls, the first assistant director, pled guilty to the negligent use of a lethal weapon and was given a suspended sentence last month.
He was in charge of the set's security, according to the prosecution.
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