Alec Baldwin's 'Rust' trial is over: These were the biggest moments

Three days into Alec Baldwin's involuntary manslaughter trial in New Mexico, the presiding judge issued the stunning decision to dismiss the "30 Rock" actor's criminal charge.

On Friday, First Judicial District Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer ruled to dismiss the felony charge with prejudice, meaning prosecutors cannot refile the same claim. The move came a day after Baldwin's lawyers filed a motion to dismiss Thursday night in which they argued state prosecutors and sheriffs investigating the fatal shooting concealed evidence.

In explaining her decision, Sommer reprimanded lead state prosecutor Kari Morrissey and her team as "they have continued to fail to disclose critical evidence to the defendant."

In January, Baldwin, 66, was charged for the second time in the shooting death of 42-year-old cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the Western film "Rust" in 2021. Later that month, he pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter.

The charge stemmed from an Oct. 21, 2021, incident in which Baldwin's prop gun, which he said he'd been told did not contain live ammunition, discharged during a rehearsal for the movie, killing 42-year-old Hutchins and wounding director Joel Souza.

Baldwin, also a producer on the film, has claimed he'd pulled back the hammer — but not the trigger — and the gun fired.

The trial had been scheduled to end July 19.

Baldwin and the film's other producers still face civil lawsuits over the shooting.

On Saturday, attorney Gloria Allred, who represents Hutchins' parents and sister, said in a press conference that she "respectfully disagrees" with the court's decision.

"The dismissal only strengthens our resolve to pursue justice in the civil case that we have filed against him in Santa Fe, New Mexico," she added.

Read on for the biggest developments in Baldwin's criminal trial that was cut short.

Day 3: Judge dismisses Alec Baldwin's involuntary manslaughter charge over withheld evidence

On Friday morning, Sommer excused the jury so the court could consider the merits of Baldwin's latest motion to dismiss the case.

Baldwin's lawyers say the evidence "concealed" from the defense — which ultimately felled the state's prosecution of the actor — was ammunition that might be connected to the bullet that killed Hutchins and injured director Joel Souza.

On Thursday, testimony revealed that Troy Teske, a friend of "Rust" armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed's stepfather, delivered Colt .45 live rounds to the sheriff's office on March 6. He claimed the ammunition matched the round that killed Hutchins.

In their filing, defense attorneys argued, "The State affirmatively concealed evidence potentially pointing to an external source of the live ammunition ("Rust" prop supplier Seth Kenney) because the evidence would be favorable to Baldwin."

Prosecutor Morrissey and sheriff's officials denied burying the evidence, claiming the live rounds from Teske were irrelevant as they were not similar in appearance to those recovered from the "Rust" set.

The defense said some of the ammunition had brass casings with the "Starline Brass" logo, just like the live rounds found on the set of "Rust." Others looked like inert dummy rounds taken into evidence on the set.

Day 2: Witness testifies live rounds were found on 'Rust' set

Four witnesses were called to the stand on the second day of trial.

Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office crime scene technician Marissa Poppell testified that her team found several live rounds on the "Rust" set in New Mexico, including in holsters worn by Baldwin and his co-star Jensen Ackles as well as a prop cart and a box of ammo. However, no live rounds were found in the production's prop truck, she said.

When questioned by Baldwin's attorney, Alex Spiro, about the search at prop supplier PDQ Arm and Prop's warehouse in Albuquerque after Hutchins' death, Poppell said they did not search every box and she was not sure whether they found every live round in the building.

She said police carried out a "reasonable" search given they had three officials to cover the premises, which had some rooms crammed to the ceiling with cardboard and plastic boxes.

Day 1: Alec Baldwin acted like 'every other actor,' prosecutors claim he asked for 'biggest gun'

After 12 jurors and four alternates — 11 women and five men — were chosen Tuesday, the courtroom heard opening arguments Wednesday.

During the first day of Baldwin's trial, wife Hilaria Baldwin and brother Stephen Baldwin were seated behind the actor while opening arguments were underway. High-profile attorney Gloria Allred was also in the courtroom gallery representing Hutchins' family.

"It was obviously a tragic accident, but Alec committed no homicide," Baldwin's attorney, Spiro, said in opening statements, stressing Baldwin's role as an actor.

"Alec took the gun from those charged with its safety. He did not tamper. He did not load it himself. He did not leave it unattended. It completed his costume and his character. It was an actor handling a prop and integrating it into the character of Harlan Rust."

Spiro largely blamed "Rust" armorer Gutierrez-Reed and first assistant director Dave Halls for alleged negligence. "There were people responsible for firearms safety but actor Alec Baldwin committed no crime," Spiro said.

Prosecutor Erlinda Johnson said during opening statements: "The evidence will show that someone who played make-believe with a real gun and violated the cardinal rules of firearm safety is the defendant, Alexander Baldwin."

Johnson also alleged Baldwin "requested to be assigned the biggest gun available" for the production.

What happened during the 'Rust' shooting?

On Oct. 21, 2021, Baldwin was pointing a pistol at Halyna Hutchins during a rehearsal for the Western film in when the gun went off, killing Hutchins and wounding Souza. The tragedy marked Hollywood's first on-set shooting fatality in three decades.

A combination of 24-year-old armorer Gutierrez-Reed's "negligence and inexperience" and Baldwin's "complete lack of concern for the safety of those around him" on set contributed to the death of 42-year-old Hutchins, according to prosecutors.

In March, a jury found Reed guilty of involuntary manslaughter. She has appealed the conviction.

In 2023, assistant director Halls pleaded no contest to negligent use of a deadly weapon and the unsafe handling of a firearm. He received a suspended six-month sentence with unsupervised probation.

Contributing: Naledi Ushe, USA TODAY, and Andrew Hay, Reuters

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Alec Baldwin charges dismissed in 'Rust' trial: Biggest moments