Prosecutors investigating Alec Baldwin’s responsibility for a fatal shooting on a film set in 2021 dropped the actor’s aggravated assault charges on Monday, AFP reported.

On October 21, 2021, the filming of Rust on a farm in the southwestern US state of New Mexico turned into a disaster when Baldwin fired what was supposed to be an empty but real bullet, killing cameraman Galina Hutchins, 42, and wounding director Joel Souza.

In New Mexico, Baldwin is charged with involuntary manslaughter and faces up to 18 months in prison, as does the film’s gunsmith, Hannah Gutierrez-Reid.

The 64-year-old actor also faced an aggravating circumstance – use of a firearm, which could send him to prison for five years.

However, this aggravating circumstance was challenged by his lawyers on the grounds that it was based on a New Mexico law that was not in effect at the time of the tragedy. In the end, the prosecutors refused, as they said, “so as not to waste time.”

Baldwin is also the subject of a civil lawsuit filed by the victim’s Ukrainian parents and sister, the family’s attorney said Thursday.

Alec Baldwin has always maintained his innocence. He said he was assured his gun was harmless and denied pulling the trigger. A claim that many experts have questioned.

This rare event shocked Hollywood and caused quite a stir, prompting calls to ban guns on film sets, where live ammunition is theoretically already prohibited.