Santa Fe officials have spent almost $900,000 on legal cases related to the 2021 fatal shooting on the set of Rust, where cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was killed. Investigations and trials for actor Alec Baldwin and armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed have included very expensive legal fees, and further costs will push the total amount above $900,000.
Because he was the one holding the firearm at the time it went off, Baldwin is also being charged with involuntary manslaughter, which charges were dismissed in April 2023 over questions about whether the gun malfunctioned. Forensic analysis later concluded that the trigger had to be pulled to fire the gun, and new charges were filed against him in January 2024.
The trial against Baldwin started in July 2024 and ended rather quickly after the case was dismissed for mishandling evidence by the prosecution. Thus, the end of the dismissal of the case also meant Baldwin could no longer face any liabilities anymore.
On the other hand, Gutierrez-Reed was convicted of involuntary manslaughter as the jury ruled that she mistakenly loaded the live rounds of the firearm. She was handed 18 months in prison.
Records show that over $750,000 was spent on legal fees, forensic investigations, and expert testimonies before Baldwin’s trial began. Other invoices filed late in 2024 and early 2025 bring the estimated cost to $911,000, although officials have not confirmed the final amount.
Despite significant effort and expenditure, several important questions remain, such as how live ammunition got on set. Baldwin’s case is dismissed and Gutierrez-Reed’s conviction is finalized; it appears that the Rust legal saga is nearing an end, though at a heavy cost to taxpayers in Santa Fe.
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