A New Mexico judge has dismissed involuntary manslaughter charges against actor Alec Baldwin, citing prosecutorial misconduct and the withholding of critical evidence. The decision brings an unexpected and dramatic end to the high-profile case stemming from the tragic on-set shooting that killed "Rust" cinematographer Halyna Hutchins in 2021.

On Friday, U.S. District Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer ruled in favor of Baldwin's defense team, who argued that prosecutors and police had deliberately withheld evidence regarding the source of the live round that killed Hutchins. Judge Sommer's decision followed intense courtroom proceedings that began just three days earlier.

"The state's withholding of the evidence was willful and deliberate," Judge Sommer stated. "Dismissal with prejudice is warranted to ensure the integrity of the judicial system and the efficient administration of justice."

With the dismissal of the involuntary manslaughter charges against Alec Baldwin, the question arises whether prosecutors can recharge him in the future. Given that the dismissal was "with prejudice," it generally means that the case is closed permanently, and Baldwin cannot be recharged on the same grounds.

The ruling was met with an emotional response from Baldwin, who hugged his wife, Hilaria Baldwin, as other family members wept in the public gallery.

Baldwin did not speak to reporters as he left the courthouse but spoke out about the dismissal of his involuntary manslaughter trial in an Instagram post on Saturday.

"There are too many people who have supported me to thank just now… To all of you, you will never know how much I appreciate your kindness toward my family."

Since charges were first filed 18 months ago, the case against Baldwin has been fraught with controversy and allegations of prosecutorial misconduct. Defense attorney Alex Spiro accused the Santa Fe Sheriff's Office of failing to disclose the existence of live rounds obtained in March, which were critical to the investigation.

The controversy deepened as Erlinda Johnson, one of the state prosecutors, resigned on Friday, becoming the fourth prosecutor to leave the case. Lead prosecutor Kari Morrissey defended herself from the witness stand, claiming no intention to mislead the court and expressing confusion over the evidence.

The shooting incident, which occurred while Baldwin was directed to point a revolver at Hutchins during a camera setup, was Hollywood's first on-set fatal shooting since Brandon Lee was killed in an on-set shooting accident nearly 30 years ago. The live round that killed Hutchins was inadvertently loaded by the movie's armorer, Hannah Gutierrez.

Evidence central to the case involved Colt .45 rounds handed to the sheriff's office by Troy Teske, a friend of Gutierrez's stepfather, Thell Reed. Despite initial claims that the rounds did not match those found on the "Rust" set, further inspection revealed similarities, leading to further scrutiny of the investigation's integrity.

The dismissal of Baldwin's charges raises questions about the conviction of Hannah Gutierrez, who was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter for her role in Hutchins' death. Gutierrez's conviction is currently under appeal, and the latest developments may influence the outcome of her case.

Defense lawyers have argued that Baldwin was let down by those responsible for on-set safety and that law enforcement was more focused on prosecuting Baldwin than on identifying the source of the live round. Prop supplier Seth Kenney, accused by the defense of providing the live rounds, denied the allegations during his testimony.