Trigger warning: This article contains references to death and possible murder
Alec Baldwin was declared free by the judge in Sante Fe court. The Rust shooting case against the actor was dismissed after prosecutors hid crucial evidence. On Saturday, the 30 Rock actor took to his Instagram account to express his gratitude to the audience and the media for maintaining his family’s privacy. Baldwin’s lawyer, Alex Spiro, was also very happy with the court’s decision and claimed that he would celebrate the victory with the actor.
Since this unfortunate incident happened in 2021, Baldwin has maintained his innocence by saying that he did not pull the trigger of the gun that fired the shot that killed cinematographer Helena Hutchins.
Alex Baldwin’s social media post on the Rust case being dropped
On his Instagram, Baldwin shared an emotional note for his friends and fans, expressing his gratitude for not invading his family’s privacy during a difficult time. In the caption, the actor wrote, “There are so many people who have supported me right now that I can’t thank enough.” He further wrote, “To all of you, you will never know how much I appreciate your kindness to my family.”
The actor also said that the journey from the day of the accident to being declared free of all charges was a long and difficult one for him. He wrote, “It has been a long and difficult journey. But today we have reached the end of the road.”
Along with the note, the actor also shared a photo of himself sitting in the courtroom. Soon after Mary Sommers announced the verdict, the actor’s wife Hilaria Baldwin was seen crying and ran into the room to hug her husband.
The actor’s wife as well as his brother also attended court to support Baldwin.
Also read: Prosecutors’ opening statements during Rust trial describe Alex Baldwin as ‘reckless’; read details inside
What was the Rust case about?
Alec Baldwin, who appeared as the lead character in the film, was practicing action scenes with a gun on the film’s set. The actor, unaware that the revolver was loaded, accidentally fired the shot, killing Hutchins, who was Rust’s cinematographer. Director Joel Souza was also injured by the bullet.
Balvin was charged with involuntary manslaughter and the court trial began on July 10, 2024.
Meanwhile, the cast and crew of Rust wrap up filming in May 2023.
Disclaimer: If you need help or know someone who is going through any kind of abuse, please contact your nearest mental health expert, NGO or just talk to someone. There are many helplines available for this.
Also read: Alex Baldwin trial: Source says Hilaria Baldwin thinks actor will be found not guilty in involuntary manslaughter case