Prosecutors in the US state of New Mexico want to charge actor Alec Baldwin after the fatal shooting of a camerawoman during a western film shoot.

This was announced by the authority on Thursday.

Armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed is also on trial.

Both are to be charged with negligent homicide, the prosecutor said in a statement.

After evaluating the investigation, there is enough evidence for criminal prosecution, said District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies.

If convicted, the two face up to 18 months in prison and a fine of $5,000 each.

Chief camerawoman Halyna Hutchins was fatally injured while filming the western "Rust" at a film ranch in Santa Fe in October 2021.

Baldwin, who served as lead actor and producer on the film, was holding a gun in rehearsal for a scene when a shot went off.

Director Joel Souza was hit in the shoulder by the projectile and injured in the incident.

Investigations revealed that the Colt had a real bullet lodged in it.

Baldwin had always denied responsibility for the fatal accident.

A civil lawsuit filed by Matthew Hutchins, the cinematographer's widower, against Baldwin and others involved in the production of "Rust" was settled out of court last October.

"We all believe that Halyna's death was a terrible accident," the widower said at the time.

He has no interest in blaming Baldwin and the film producers.

Instead, they wanted to acknowledge the cinematographer's latest work and continue shooting Rust.

Matthew Hutchins is set to produce the film, which begins shooting in January.

Halyna Hutchins is survived by a husband and a son.

Baldwin denies responsibility

Baldwin himself filed a lawsuit against four members of the film crew in November.

According to a court document, the lawsuit is directed against the master-at-arms, the assistant director, the head props manager and the responsible arms and ammunition suppliers.

Baldwin accuses them of negligence.

The incident occurred "because live ammunition was delivered to the location and loaded into the gun, and (Hannah) Gutierrez-Reed did not carefully inspect the gun but announced it was safe before passing it on to (Alec) Baldwin." , according to the lawsuit, which was filed in a Los Angeles court.

All those involved in the lawsuit have denied any guilt.

Baldwin accidentally shot and killed 42-year-old cinematographer Hutchins with a prop gun while filming the low-budget western in New Mexico on October 21, 2021.

The revolver was apparently loaded with at least one real bullet.

It is not yet clear how this could have happened.

Baldwin has repeatedly denied any responsibility.

The 64-year-old emphasizes that he was told that the revolver was "cold", meaning that it did not contain live ammunition.