Baldwin Could Face Charges for Fatal Shot

Actor Alec Baldwin could face charges for discharging a prop gun that resulted in the death of a director of photography on the set of his new movie “Rust,” according to legal experts.

But they cautioned that with key facts around the incident still in doubt, there is more to learn to determine who, if anyone, will face criminal charges.

Halyna Hutchins, 42, who was directing photography for the movie, was killed. Director Joel Souza, 48, was injured in the accident and taken to a nearby hospital.

“There are some circumstances where even a prop gun with a blank can be dangerous if it’s shot within close range,” said Neama Rahmani of the personal injury firm West Coast Trial Lawyers, according to USA Today.

“Let’s say it was loaded with a blank, but Baldwin himself was criminally negligent and shot it from close range, even though it wasn’t a live round. Then he could be held liable,” she said.

“Assuming it was just incompetence or a colossal mistake, that rises to the level of criminal negligence, which would be sufficient for a manslaughter prosecution,” Rahmani said.

Rachel Fiset, managing partner of Los Angeles firm Zweiback, Fiset & Coleman, said the issue goes beyond Baldwin.

“Proper compliance with safety issues on the set will be a large, general question that will be asked that may have a huge impact on any potential legal matters that may come from this case,” she said, USA Today reported.

“And then on the worst side of the scale, you could have potential criminal issues that would range from criminal negligence to intentional acts that may have caused this tragedy.”

Juan Rios, a public information officer for the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office, said Friday that investigators are still trying to determine what the gun contained when it was fired.