Three people face involuntary manslaughter charges following the death of director of photography Halyna Hutchins on the set of the Western film, Rust.

It was announced on Thursday that Alec Baldwin would face two counts of involuntary manslaughter after discharging the gun that shot Hutchins, while he practised a gun-drawing technique.

The film’s armourer, Hannah Gutierrez Reed, also faces the same charges.

David Halls, the first assistant director for Rust, has agreed to plead guilty to the charge of negligent use of a deadly weapon.

Each charge carries a punishment of up to 18 months in prison.

The last words spoken by Halyna Hutchins in the moments after she was shot have been revealed.

Ms Hutchins, director of photography for the Western film Rust, died on 21 October 2021 after being shot by a gun held by actor Alec Baldwin, who’d believed it was filled with dummy rounds instead of gunpowder and a projectile.

Seconds after she was struck, Ms Hutchins cried out to a boom operator: “That was no good. That was no good at all,” according to a Los Angeles Times report based on interviews with 14 crew members.

Find out more in the story below:

Director Joel Souza was also impacted by the gun discharged by Alec Baldwin on the Rust set.

He was admitted to the hospital with a gunshot wound in October 2021 and was discharged soon after.

According to a source with knowledge of the film speaking to The New York Times, Souza will return to the film as director, while Baldwin will also resume his lead role.

In February 2022, Halyna Hutchins’s husband said he felt “angry” seeing the actor speak about his wife’s death “so publicly”.

“I was angry to see him talk about her death so publicly in such a detailed way, and then to not accept responsibility after having just described killing her,” said Matt Hutchins on the Today show last year.

“The idea that the person holding the gun causing it to discharge is not rep is absurd to me.”

Mickey Rourke has spoken out in defence of Alec Baldwin, saying there is “no way in hell” he should face charges over the death of Halyna Hutchins.

Responding to the news on Instagram, Rourke wrote: “I usually never put my two cents in about what happens on someone’s movie set. It’s a terrible tragedy what happened to cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. But no way in hell actor Alec Baldwin should be charged with any negligence whatsoever.”

Louis Chilton has the story for The Independent:

Alec Baldwin has shared a photograph of his wife Hilaria and six-year-old son Leo in the first post since he was charged with involuntary manslaughter surrounding Halyna Hutchins’s death.

“The old “let me give you a back rub” ploy. Potato chips to follow.“ the Rust actor captioned the photo.

Alec Baldwin will finish filming Rust as lead star despite involuntary manslaughter charges

Rust production’s attorney Melina Spadone told CNN on Friday that “on-set safety supervisors and union crew members … will bar any use of working weapons or any ammunition,” just a day after New Mexico prosecutors announced charges against three of the movie’s original crew.

The Independent has the story:

ICYMI: Halyna Hutchins’ family react to manslaughter charges

On Thursday (19 January), the family of Halyna Hutchins released a statement in response to the news that Alec Baldwin, among others would be charged with involuntary manslaughter for her death.

Hutchins, 42, was shot by Mr Baldwin, who was starring in and producing the movie, during a rehearsal inside a church on the set on 21 October 2021.

In a message delivered through lawyer Brian Panish, the family thanked the Santa Fe sheriff and the District Attorney “for concluding their thorough investigation and determining that charges for involuntary manslaughter are warranted for the killing of Halyna Hutchins with conscious disregard for human life”.

They later went on to state that the announcement is a “comfort for the family”.

The Independent’s Graeme Massie has the full story:

Broadcaster and columnist Piers Morgan weighed in on the Rust shooting on Thursday, after the news that Alec Baldwin would face involuntary manslaughter charges broke.

On his talk show, Piers Morgan Uncensored, Morgan appeared to welcome the charges against the actor.

“There was no doubt that it was an accident but Halyna Hutchins died, leaving behind a grief-stricken husband and a young child and the person holding the gun that fired a bullet and killed her was Alec Baldwin,” said Morgan.

“It was him who did that, who fired a bullet into his co-worker’s body and snuffed out her life. Nobody else’s hands were anywhere near the gun.”

The full story, by Annabel Nugent, is below:

Director Joel Souza was also impacted by the gun discharged by Alec Baldwin on the Rust set.

He was admitted to the hospital with a gunshot wound in October 2021 and was discharged soon after.

According to a source with knowledge of the film speaking to The New York Times, Souza will return to the film as director, while Baldwin will also resume his lead role.