SANTA FE, New Mexico – On Thursday, the sheriff’s department presented its investigatory conclusions to prosecutors in the death of a cinematographer shooting and killing by Alec Baldwin on the set of a film in New Mexico in October 2021.
According to Juan Ros, a spokesperson for the Santa Fe Sheriff’s Office, two binders of information had been turned over to the Santa Fe-based district attorney’s office without any suggestions about possible criminal proceedings.
He stated that the case file details all of the evidence gathered, including FBI investigatory interviews as well as forensic analysis of physical evidence. District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies stated through a spokesperson that investigators and prosecution will now conduct a thorough review in order to make a timely decision whether or not to file charges. No particular deadlines were given.
On October 21, 2021, cinematographer Halyna Hutchins died soon after sustaining a gunshot wound during setup for a scene in the western movie “Rust” at a filmset ranch on the outskirts of Santa Fe. Baldwin was pointing a firearm at Hutchins when the it went off, killing her as well as injuring director Joel Souza.
The Santa Fe Sheriff’s Office already has made public a massive collection of police files related to the fatal shooting, which include lapel camera video of the fatally wounded Hutchins, witness interrogations, e – mail threads, text conversations, ammo inventories, as well as hundreds of photographic images.
Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza has characterized “a degree of neglect” on the set of “Rust,” but is postponing decisions on possible criminal indictments to prosecutors for the time being.
Hutchins’ family, widower Matthew Hutchins and his 9-year-old son Andros recently settled a case against “Rust” producers in a contract that seeks to resume filming with Matthew as executive producer.
Baldwin claims the gun accidentally discharged and that he did not pull the trigger. However, according to a recent FBI forensic report, the weapon is unlikely to have fired except if the trigger was pulled.
Upon completion of an autopsy as well as a review of law enforcement reports, the New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator deduced the shooting was an accident.
Rust Movie Productions is still contesting the basis of a $137,000 fine imposed by New Mexico occupational safety regulators, who claim production managers on the set did not adhere to industry standard protocols for firearms safety.
In April 2023, the state Occupational Health and Safety Review Commission will hold an eight-day hearing on the contested sanctions.
Rust Movie Productions was fined the maximum amount by New Mexico’s Occupational Health and Safety Bureau in April, as well as a scathing tale of safety failures was distributed, which include testimony that production managers took little or no steps to correct two misfires of blank ammunition on set before the fatal shooting occurred.
Rust Movie Productions informed safety regulators that the misfires before Hutchins’ death weren’t in violation of safety protocols and that “proper remedial actions were taken,” including casting and crew briefings.
Other legal issues regarding the film as well as the fatal shooting stayed.
