The charges against actor Alec Baldwin in connection with the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the film "Rust" have been downgraded. Baldwin was initially charged with "culpable negligence" for his role in the shooting, but the charge has now been changed to "reckless conduct."
The decision to downgrade the charge was made by the district attorney's office in Santa Fe, New Mexico, after a preliminary hearing in which evidence was presented. The district attorney's office reportedly concluded that the evidence did not support the original charge of "culpable negligence," which is a higher level of culpability than "reckless conduct."
Note that Baldwin's attorneys have stated that they believe the new charge is also not supported by the evidence. The case will now proceed to a grand jury, which will decide whether or not to indict Baldwin on the charge of reckless conduct.
The shooting on the set of "Rust" in October 2021 was a tragic event that shocked the film industry and led to renewed calls for greater safety measures on film sets. The downgrading of Baldwin's charge is a significant development in the case, but it remains to be seen how the case will ultimately be resolved.