Alec Baldwin Pleads Not Guilty in ‘Rust’ Shooting Case

Alec Baldwin has pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter in the Rust shooting case. 

Baldwin and his team submitted his plea in a court filing obtained by The Hollywood Reporter ahead of his first appearance, which was scheduled to take place virtually on Friday but was waived following the filing. He remains free without having to post bond. Rust armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed is still expected to appear on Friday to enter her own plea in the case.

The plea comes less than a week after the Santa Fe County District Attorney downgraded charges against Baldwin and Gutierrez-Reed, removing the firearm enhancement and a potential five-year prison sentence for both. The two still face involuntary manslaughter charges in the case over cinematographer Halyna Hutchins’ death on the Bonanza Creek Ranch set in October 2021, which could result in a maximum of 18 months in prison.

Baldwin has repeatedly denied that he was at fault for the shooting.

The plea follows an extensive, yearlong investigation into the shooting, which resulted in Hutchins’ death and the injury of director Joel Souza after a gun held by Alec Baldwin discharged on set. The investigation by the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s office was assisted by the FBI, and led to Baldwin and Gutierrez-Reed being formally charged with involuntary manslaughter on Jan. 31. That followed Santa Fe County District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies announcing criminal charges on Jan. 19 against the two, neither of whom were arrested.

“Baldwin acted with willful disregard of the safety of others and in a manner which endangered other people,” the DA said in a statement regarding the charges against Baldwin.

Baldwin is set to return to complete filming the movie this spring in Montana after it halted production following the shooting. The crew will feature a mix of old and new members. Hutchins’ widow, Matthew, is a named producer on the project as part of a settlement that was announced back in October 2022.