Hollywood actor Alec Baldwin shared his first post after a New Mexico judge dismissed involuntary manslaughter charges against him related to the tragic shooting on the set of the film ‘Rust’. The actor expressed gratitude amid the challenging legal battle.

He shared a photo of himself from the courtroom and wrote, “There are so many people who have supported me right now that I can’t thank enough. To all of you, you will never know how much I appreciate your kindness to my family.”

In a statement deadline, “I am grateful for the tremendous support I have received during this challenging time,” the actor added.

Judge Marlo Somer’s announcement on Friday, July 12, not only dismissed the charges against Alex Baldwin but also put a stop to any possibility of a retrial, effectively ending the criminal proceedings against him, reports The Hollywood Reporter.

Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer, presiding over the trial in Santa Fe, New Mexico, said possible bullet holes in the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, which could have been relevant to Baldwin’s case, were not shared with his lawyers by police and prosecutors.

Top Hollywood actors immediately cried foul as the case – which could have seen them sentenced to 18 months in prison if convicted – was suddenly presented with sensationalist visuals.

“The state’s deliberate withholding of this information was deliberate and intentional. If this conduct does not rise to the level of bad faith, it certainly comes so close to bad faith that it shows signs of egregious prejudice,” Marlowe Sommer said.

During a rehearsal in October 2021, Baldwin was holding a gun in Hutchins’ direction when the gun went off, killing Hutchins and injuring the film’s director.

The film’s weapons manufacturer, Hannah Gutierrez, who loaded the deadly weapon, is already serving an 18-month prison sentence for involuntary manslaughter.