Alec Baldwin formally charged over fatal 'Rust' shooting

Alec Baldwin was formally charged Tuesday with involuntary manslaughter over the accidental shooting of a cinematographer on the set of the low-budget western Rust.

Baldwin was holding the Colt .45 during rehearsals for the film when it discharged, killing Halyna Hutchins in October 2021.

New Mexico First Judicial District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies had already announced earlier this month that there was sufficient evidence to file criminal charges against the veteran US actor.

"Today we have taken another important step in securing justice for Halyna Hutchins," Carmack-Altwies said Tuesday. "In New Mexico, no one is above the law and justice will be served."

In their statement of probable cause, investigators said Baldwin had been "distracted and talking on his cell phone to his family" during a firearms training session.

He only attended training for around 30 minutes, even though the session was scheduled to run for "at least an hour or more," they wrote, citing the film's armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed.

Gutierrez-Reed, who was responsible for weapons on set, was formally charged Tuesday with the same crime as Baldwin.

If convicted, they face up to 18 months in prison and a USD5,000 fine, but a firearm enhancement to the charge could take that sentence to five years.

Former 30 Rock star Baldwin has repeatedly said he was told by the crew that the gun was not loaded, and that he did not pull the trigger.

Baldwin's attorney Luke Nikas has vowed to beat the charge, which he called a "terrible miscarriage of justice."

Lawyers for Gutierrez-Reed said Tuesday that prosecutors had "completely misunderstood the facts" and had "reached the wrong conclusions."