(NewsNation) — A judge dismissed the involuntary manslaughter case against Alec Baldwin with prejudice Friday.
Baldwin was facing charges in relation to the death of “Rust” cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the movie’s set in 2021. He was seen crying from his seat in the courtroom after the dismissal.
Baldwin and his lawyers left the courthouse without commenting to reporters.
Prosecutor Kari Morrissey took the stand in her own defense and then admitted that Special Prosecutor Erlinda Johnson resigned unexpectedly, claiming it was due to a disagreement with having the motion hearing made public. Johnson joined NewsNation’s Chris Cuomo later in the evening and clarified why she quit.
Jurors in the actor’s trial were sent home for the weekend Friday while the prosecution and defense made arguments over the case dismissal.
During a rehearsal for the film “Rust,” Baldwin was using a gun meant to be loaded with dummy rounds when he allegedly pointed it at the camera and fired, killing Hutchins and wounding director Joel Souza.
While the actor has maintained he did not pull the trigger on the weapon and that it fired by accident, FBI analysts disputed this upon examining the gun.
Defense attorneys for Baldwin said in court Friday that prosecutors concealed information about a good Samaritan who brought ammunition to law enforcement after the trial of “Rust” armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed.
They say this was exculpatory evidence that could have tied the movie’s weapons provider, Seth Kenney, to live ammo found on set.
Kenney has not been charged with any wrongdoing, and police and prosecutors have said there is no evidence that he had any role in the live ammunition on the “Rust” set.
Although the defense said they don’t know if the evidence was a live ammunition match, they argued that the “state had it, and it’s disclosable.”
“If this evidence wasn’t as important as we say it is, they would have turned it over,” defense attorney Luke Nikas said.
Morrissey, however, maintained there has been “no violation in our obligation” on behalf of the state. The prosecution has said that the ammunition was not connected to the case and was not hidden.
Gutierrez-Reed, the person responsible for keeping track of weapons used in the movie, was convicted of involuntary manslaughter earlier this year and sentenced to 18 months in prison.
Prosecutors alleged Gutierrez-Reed was negligent for not realizing live rounds had been mixed in with a box of dummy rounds. Gutierrez-Reed’s lawyers, meanwhile, say she was scapegoated by others working on the film. Producers had failed to keep the set safe and did not hold enough safety meetings, her defense attorneys said.
There has still not been a definitive determination on how the live rounds got on set. But prosecutors said photos found on Gutierrez-Reed’s cellphone point to her being responsible.
The Associated Press contributed to this post.