A judge has refused a request to dismiss charges of involuntary manslaughter against actor Alec Baldwin in connection with the accidental shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the film Rust in 2021. The judge also decided to continue the trial in July, and Baldwin could face up to 18 months in prison if convicted. The defense had argued that the prosecutors violated grand jury procedures, but this was rejected by the judge. The prosecution denies this accusation and maintains that Baldwin made attempts to escape blame and contradicted himself in statements to officials and safety organizers. The incident occurred when Baldwin fired a gun, which was supposed to be empty, during filming, and the bullet hit and killed Hutchins. The film production company suspended filming after the incident to ensure the safety of the cast and crew, and the site was closed and investigated by police. Work on the film resumed in 2023, with additional safety officers in place to prevent similar tragedies.