Baldwin reaches settlement after fatal shooting on set

Hollywood actor Alec Baldwin said Wednesday he, along with the producers for the Western movie "Rust," had reached a civil settlement with the family of the woman he fatally shot with a prop gun on a film set in October last year.

"We are pleased to announce today the settlement of the civil case filed on behalf of the family of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins," Baldwin said in an Instagram post. "Throughout this difficult process, everyone has maintained the specific desire to do what is best for Halyna's son."

Filming to resume with Hutchins' widower as executive producer

Halyna's widower, Matthew Hutchins, also confirmed the development in a statement released on Wednesday.

"We have reached a settlement, subject to court approval, for our wrongful death case against the producers of Rust including Alec Baldwin,'' Matthew Hutchins said. "As part of that settlement, our case will be dismissed. The filming of Rust, which I will now executive produce, will resume with all the original principal players on board, in January 2023."

"I have no interest in engaging in recriminations or attribution of blame (to the producers or Mr. Baldwin)," Hutchins said. "All of us believe Halyna's death was a terrible accident."

No need for a real gun to be used on set, family said

Halyna Hutchins was killed when a gun Baldwin was pointing in her direction went off in his hand. Director Joel Souza was wounded in the incident.

In February, the attorneys announced on behalf of the family of the slain cinematographer that they were suing Baldwin, along with the movie's producers, for wrongful death.

Lawyers for the family said a real firearm was not requiredon set and blamed "reckless behavior" for her death.

Baldwin had claimed that he did not pull the trigger of the gun. An FBI forensic test found that the revolver "functioned normally" and would not have fired without the trigger being pulled.

New Mexico's Office of the Medical Investigator ruled the shooting an accident in August, having found that the gun was not deliberately loaded with a live round.

The state's occupational safety regulator fined Rust's production company $137,000, which is the maximum amount possible, for what were described as "willful" safety lapses. The company is challenging the basis of the fine.

Following the settlement with Matthew Hutchins, at least four other lawsuits brought by Rust crew members remain.

jsi,sdi/sms (AFP, Reuters, AP)