Alec Baldwin’s Rust shooting charges downgraded

The involuntary manslaughter charges against Alec Baldwin following the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins have been downgraded by New Mexico prosecutors, The Independent reports.

Baldwin no longer faces firearm enhancement charges over Hutchins’ death. Baldwin’s lawyers had argued that the Santa Fe County district attorney had wrongly charged the actor under a New Mexico gun law that had been passed months after the incident on the set of Rust in 2021.

The removal of the firearm enhancement charge means that if found guilty of involuntary manslaughter, Baldwin could face up to 18 months in prison as opposed to a five-year minimum sentence.

CBS News has also reported that the firearm enhancement charge has also been dropped for Rust‘s armourer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed.

Baldwin is set to make his first US court appearance on Friday (24 February) for his arraignment hearing, likely to be held virtually. The 64-year-old actor has denied responsibility for the shooting.

Earlier this month, it was revealed that Alec Baldwin was being sued for negligence by Halyna Hutchins’ Ukrainian family.