Alec Baldwin is charged by the New Mexico grand jury with involuntary manslaughter in the shooting death of Rust

Alec Baldwin has been charged with involuntary manslaughter by a New Mexico grand jury, more than two years after he accidentally shot cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of his ill-fated Western film Rust.

The suit was filed Friday and charges Baldwin with involuntary manslaughter based on negligent use of a firearm and disregard for the safety of others.

If convicted, Baldwin faces up to 18 months in prison.

Previous charges filed by New Mexico prosecutors were dismissed last April.

The grand jury indictment charges Baldwin with involuntary manslaughter on the grounds of negligent use of a firearm and disregard for the safety of others.

In a statement today, Baldwin's attorneys Alex Spiro and Luke Nikas said, “We look forward to our day in court.”

Gloria Allred, the attorney for Halyna's parents and sister, said in a statement: “Our clients have always sought the truth about what happened on the day Halyna Hutchins was tragically shot and killed on October 21, 2021.

“They continue to seek the truth for them in our civil lawsuit and also want accountability in the criminal justice system.

“The grand jury has determined there is sufficient evidence to indict Alec Baldwin on a charge of involuntary manslaughter.

“We look forward to the criminal trial that will determine whether he should be convicted for Halyna's untimely death.”

Baldwin has always maintained that he complied with gun safety laws, and that the fault lies with the gunsmith or crew who handed him a gun loaded with a live round.

He insists he confirmed the gun was “cold” when he took it to rehearse the scene in question.

Alec Baldwin and Halyna Hutchins, along with other cast, are pictured on the Rust set

Baldwin in his first police interview on the day of the accident. He has always maintained that he did not pull the trigger

Baldwin was practicing drawing the prop gun from his holster when he claims it spontaneously fired.

He has always maintained that he did not pull the trigger.

But a new report from Lucien Haag of Forensic Science Services in Arizona states that the trigger “had to be pulled or depressed sufficiently to release the fully cocked or retracted hammer of the evidence revolver.”

The lengthy legal fiasco began with Hutchins' death in October.

Baldwin launched a media tour insisting it was a tragic accident and not a murder for which he was responsible.

In the aftermath of Hutchins' death, Baldwin gave an emotional interview in which he insisted he was not to blame

Baldwin with his wife Hilaria and their seven children in October

He was initially charged in January 2023 by New Mexico's first judicial district attorney, Mary Carmack-Altwies, who launched her own media tour shortly after filing charges.

Baldwin's team interpreted her enthusiasm for the cause as a fame-hungry attempt to boost her own career.

After hashing it out with his team in the court of public opinion, Carmack-Altwies withdrew from the case and a special prosecutor was appointed to take over the case.

Last April, that team decided to drop the charges, and Baldwin, who had already settled a wrongful death lawsuit brought by Hutchins' family, breathed a brief sigh of relief.

The scandal – now culminating in the new set of charges – has tarnished the actor's reputation and earning potential.

In a video earlier this week, Baldwin appeared winded on the beach in a real estate video to promote the sale of his Hamptons spread.

He is selling the property for $19 million – $10 million less than he first put it on the market. Many see it as a desperate cash grab to pay his mounting legal bills.

It is also believed that the family is filming a reality TV show.

Cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, 42, died in an ambulance on the way to hospital