In a major development, actor Alec Baldwin has been indicted on an involuntary manslaughter charge in connection with the shooting incident on the set of the film "Rust" last year. This comes after prosecutors had initially dropped the case against Baldwin in 2023.

The indictment, issued by a grand jury, accuses Baldwin, 65, of involuntary manslaughter (negligent use of a firearm) or, in the alternative, involuntary manslaughter (without due caution or circumspection), both fourth-degree felonies. Baldwin's attorneys, Luke Nikas and Alex Spiro of Quinn Emanuel, responded to the indictment, stating that they "look forward to our day in court."

The shooting occurred in October 2021 on the Santa Fe set of "Rust" when Baldwin was practicing a cross-draw and the gun discharged, resulting in the tragic death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. Director Joel Souza was also injured but survived. Initially, Baldwin had been charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter, but the case was later dropped by special prosecutors in April 2023, who emphasized that the investigation was ongoing.

The decision to indict Baldwin now comes following the announcement by special prosecutors in October 2023 that they believed he had "criminal culpability" in Hutchins' death. They had intended to present the case to the grand jury to determine whether there was enough evidence to bring charges.

Alongside Baldwin, "Rust" armorer Hannah Gutierrez has also been indicted on two counts of involuntary manslaughter. She has an additional charge of tampering with evidence, as prosecutors claim she handed over a small bag of cocaine following her interview with the police on the day of the shooting. Gutierrez has been charged separately with unlawful carrying of a firearm in a licensed liquor establishment for an unrelated incident that occurred weeks before the "Rust" shooting.

Notably, gun enhancement charges initially filed against both Gutierrez and Baldwin were dropped last year. Gutierrez's defense team sought to have her charges dismissed based on jurisdictional and structural issues but was denied by State District Court Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer in August 2023. Her trial is slated to begin on February 21 in Santa Fe County, with jury selection preceding it. The trial is expected to last for two weeks.

The attorneys representing Hutchins' family and the film's script supervisor, who also filed civil lawsuits related to the shooting, expressed their anticipation for the criminal trial, where they believe justice will be served.

In March 2023, David Halls, the first assistant director for "Rust," was sentenced to six months of unsupervised probation as part of a plea deal. Halls had handed the Colt .45 revolver to Baldwin before the incident and was charged with negligent use of a deadly weapon.

As the legal proceedings continue, all eyes are now on the upcoming trial that will determine the course of justice in the tragic shooting incident on the "Rust" set.