In a shocking turn of events, actor Alec Baldwin has been charged with involuntary manslaughter for the second time over the fatal shooting on the set of the film "Rust." A grand jury in New Mexico has indicted Baldwin over the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, who tragically lost her life when she was struck with a live .45 bullet during an off-set rehearsal in October 2021. The incident occurred as Baldwin was aiming an antique six-shooter, which should have been loaded with dummy rounds.

According to an indictment obtained by The Post, Baldwin is accused of causing Hutchins' death through an act committed with a total disregard for the safety of others. In response to the new charges, Baldwin's attorneys, Luke Nikas and Alex Spiro, stated, "We look forward to our day in court." Baldwin, who was not only an actor but also an executive producer and co-writer on the Western film, has consistently maintained that he never pulled the trigger. This contradicts the FBI's ruling, which stated that the revolver could not have fired without the trigger being clipped.

The film's director, Joel Souza, also fell victim to the accidental firing of the gun and was shot in the shoulder. The incident sent shockwaves through the industry, raising questions about safety protocols on film sets. It was revealed that the production company behind the project, Rust Movie Productions LLC, had its lawyers present at the scene even before the police arrived, according to prosecutor Kari Morrissey. Morrissey alleged that the legal counsel arrived within just "30 to 60 minutes" of the incident occurring in Santa Fe.

Following the shooting, two sources connected to the case informed NBC News that Baldwin could potentially face charges related to the incident. This prediction has now come to fruition with the recent indictment. It is important to note that Baldwin had previously been charged with the same crime by the Santa Fe district attorney in January 2022. However, the case fell apart and the charges were dropped in April of that year. This was due to the need for further tests to be conducted on the weapon that fired the fatal bullet. Nevertheless, the district attorney made it clear that the door would be left open to refile the charges.

In November, videos from the set emerged, showing Baldwin firing prop guns and discussing firearm safety with the crew. One particular clip captured the “30 Rock” star lying on the ground and instructing someone to move to the "other side of the camera" to avoid shooting towards them. These videos shed light on the precautions taken during the production but also raised questions about the circumstances surrounding the fatal incident.

As the case moves forward, the film industry continues to grapple with the tragic loss of Halyna Hutchins and the implications for on-set safety. The upcoming court proceedings will undoubtedly shed further light on the events that unfolded on the set of “Rust” and determine the legal consequences for Alec Baldwin.