The aftermath of the 2021 fatal shooting of a cinematographer on the set of Alec Baldwin‘s movie Rust plays out in his family’s TLC reality show, The Baldwins. The actor balanced his seven children‘s needs while leaning on wife Hilaria Baldwin for support as he headed into his involuntary manslaughter trial in July 2024. In Touch takes a closer look at how the tragedy occurred and its lasting impact on Alec and his family.

What Happened to Halyna Hutchins?

Cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was working on the New Mexico set of Alec’s Western film Rust in October 2021 when the actor allegedly discharged a Colt .45 revolver while rehearsing a scene. The round killed the cinematographer and injured director Joel Souza.

The film’s assistant director, David Halls, previously called out that the weapon was a “cold gun,” meaning there weren’t live rounds inside, according to a search warrant affidavit. However, Halyna was killed by a live round. She died from her injuries after being airlifted to a hospital in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Alec Baldwin Denied Shooting Halyna Hutchins

In his first interview after the shooting, Alec told ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos that he didn’t pull the trigger of the weapon during a December 2024 interview.

“Someone put a live bullet in a gun, a bullet that wasn’t even supposed to be on the property,” he explained. “Someone is ​responsible for what happened, and I can’t say who that is, but I know it’s not me.”

Alec described how he was working with Halyna during a rehearsal. “And [Halyna] says to me, ‘Hold the gun lower. Go to your right. OK, right there. All right, do that. Now show it a little bit lower.’ And she’s getting me to position the gun. She’s guiding me through how she wants me to hold the gun for this angle,” he recalled. “I’m holding the gun where she told me to hold it, which ended up being aimed right below her armpit.”

The 30 Rock alum said that he needed to cock the gun to get the shot but not fire it. “The trigger wasn’t pulled. I didn’t pull the trigger,” he told Geroge. The newsman asked, “So, you never pulled the trigger?” Alec replied, “No, no, no, no, no. I would never point a gun at anyone and pull a trigger at them.”

Alec Baldwin Settled a Lawsuit With Halyna Hutchins’ Family

Halyna’s family, which included her husband, Matthew Hutchins, and then-10-year-old son Andros, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Alec and the producers of Rust in February 2022. They reached a private settlement in the case in April 2022.

Alec Baldwin Had a Long Legal Case Involving Halyna Hutchins’ Shooting

In January 2023, Santa Fe Country First Judicial District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies and special prosecutor Andrea Reeb charged Alec and Rust armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed — who was in charge of weapons on the set — each with two counts of involuntary manslaughter. The actor pleaded not guilty on February 23, 2023.

The charges against Alec were dropped in April 2023, and Hannah received an additional charge of tampering with evidence. A jury found her guilty of involuntary manslaughter in March 2024, but not guilty of tampering with evidence. The following month, she was sentenced to the maximum of 18 months in prison.

Alec was indicted by a Santa Fe, New Mexico, grand jury on charges of involuntary manslaughter in January 2024, to which he entered a not guilty plea.

The Motherless Brooklyn star went on trial on July 9, 2024, with a jury made up of 11 women and five men, including four alternates.

Alec Baldwin’s Involuntary Manslaughter Case Was Dismissed

Three days into the trial, Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer granted a motion by Alec’s defense team to dismiss the case on the grounds that prosecutors withheld evidence from the defense team. The jurist dismissed the cast “with prejudice,” meaning prosecutors couldn’t retry the case.

Alec broke down in tears of relief in the courtroom and hugged members of his legal team. The following day, he released a statement via Instagram.

“There are too many people who have supported me to thank just now. To all of you, you will never know how much I appreciate your kindness toward my family,” he wrote along with a photo of him in court.

Alec Baldwin Discusses His Stress Over His Impending Trial on ‘The Baldwins’

Filming began for TLC’s The Baldwins ahead of Alec’s trial date. Clips from the premiere episode were shown in a trailer that was released in January 2025. Alec and Hilaria took their seven children on their annual summer Hamptons getaway, where they celebrated their son Rafael’s ninth birthday.

Amid the happy times were moments of stress and heartbreak over the Rust tragedy.

“A son lost his mom in the most unthinkable tragedy. This is never something to forget, and we’re trying to parent through it,” Hilaria explained in a confessional, referring to Halyna’s son, Andros.

Alec was also seen telling his wife through tears, “Honestly, from the bottom of my soul. I don’t know where I’d be if I didn’t have you and these kids,” as his court case loomed.

The Baldwins premieres on February 23, 2025, at 10 p.m. ET/PT on TLC.