‘Rust’ Shooting Investigation Close To Wrapping Up, Still Awaiting Two Key Reports

Topline

The Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Department said Thursday the investigation into the shooting on the set of the movie Rust, when a gun in Alec Baldwin’s fired and killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, is close to wrapping up after nearly 10 months, but two key portions are still outstanding.

Key Facts

The department received forensic reports from the FBI earlier this month, which were forwarded to the New Mexico Office Of The Medical Investigator.

With the FBI documents, the OMI was able to conclude its own report, which it finalized and sent back to the sheriff’s department for review Wednesday.

The sheriff’s department, along with the detectives from New York’s Suffolk County Police Department, is working to obtain, process and disclose Baldwin’s phone records, which are “forthcoming.”

When the records are obtained by the sheriff’s department, “our detectives will need to then thoroughly review” them “for evidentiary purposes,” Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza said in a statement.

Once the OMI report is reviewed and the phone records are received and reviewed, “the final Sheriff’s Office investigative case file will be forwarded to the District Attorney for review and final charging decisions,” the statement said.

Luke Nikas, Baldwin’s attorney, told Forbes that he was told the “Suffolk County PD has been processing” the actor’s phone records “to turn over to the New Mexico authorities and that this will finally happen next week.”

Key Background

On October 21, a gun in Baldwin’s hand discharged during a rehearsal, killing Hutchins and injuring director Joel Souza. Baldwin believed the weapon was safe to use and has said he did not pull the weapon’s trigger. It’s unclear how live ammunition got onto the movie’s set, as it was not supposed to be present there. Hutchins’ family has sued Baldwin and other producers of the film for wrongful death. Mendoza said in April that nobody is “off the hook for criminal charges.” Baldwin has said he is not responsible for Hutchins death, and believes a report published this spring from the New Mexico Environment Department’s Occupational Health and Safety Bureau, which found the production ignored safety protocols which led to Hutchins death, “exonerates” him. Baldwin turned over his phone to New York officials in January. Rust Movie Productions appealed the decision and fine. District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies released a statement last week saying her office “has received portions of the Rust investigation,” but was awaiting some key portions, including those mentioned in the sheriff department’s Thursday statement. Once those outstanding portions are received, “the screening process will begin, and my team and I will make a charging decision.” A special prosecutor was added to the case.

Further Reading

Rust Production Company Appeals Fine Over Safety Violations (Forbes)

‘Rust’ Production Company Fined For Not Following Safety Procedures That Led To Shooting (Forbes)

Alec Baldwin Sued By Victim’s Family For Wrongful Death Over ‘Rust’ Shooting (Forbes)