A forensic report released on Tuesday found that the gun that actor Alec Baldwin was holding in 2021 when a “Rust” cinematographer was killed could only have fired if the trigger was pulled.
Baldwin, 65, denied pulling the trigger of the gun that fatally shot Halyna Hutchins in the chest and wounded director Joel Souza in his shoulder. The latest report was completed by forensic consultants Lucien and Michael Haag, who also determined that the gun was broken during prior testing by the FBI, according to Variety.
“Although Alec Baldwin repeatedly denies pulling the trigger, given the tests, findings and observations reported here, the trigger had to be pulled or depressed sufficiently to release the fully cocked or retracted hammer of the evidence revolver,” the pair wrote.
The report also determined that there were four kinds of dummy ammo on set. The live rounds could be distinguished from the dummy rounds by observing the lack of a hole or rattling them, according to Variety.
In April, New Mexico prosecutors dropped involuntary manslaughter charges against Baldwin. At the time, prosecutors Kari Morrissey and Jason Lewis said they needed additional time to investigate new information presented to them, and that their review would not be completed before Baldwin’s preliminary hearing. The charges were dismissed without prejudice, meaning they could be refiled at a later date.
According to Variety, prosecutors said Baldwin will be recharged if the gun is working properly and they determine it was not malfunctioning at the time of the deadly shooting.
“I expect that decision to be forthcoming,” Morrissey wrote in an email to Variety on Thursday.
On October 21, 2021, Baldwin was reportedly showing how he would pull a gun from the holster when the weapon fired in a mock church pew at Bonanza Creek Ranch — fatally shooting Halyna Hutchins in the chest and wounding director Joel Souza in his shoulder. The bullet traveled through Souza’s shoulder before striking Hutchins.
At the time, Baldwin told officers that he believed the gun was cold when he was rehearsing a cross draw. He has also denied pulling the trigger. However, the FBI’s investigation concluded that the gun could not have been fired without someone pulling the trigger.
On the day of the shooting, six camera crew members reportedly walked off the set due to issues with housing and payment. A witness said the six crew members were threatened with security if they did not leave and they were replaced with three non-union members.
“Rust” armorer Hannah Gutierrez Reed is scheduled to stand trial in December on charges of involuntary manslaughter and evidence tampering. Reed said that weapons supplier Seth Kenneys, not her, was responsible for mixing live and dummy rounds.
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[Featured image: Alec Baldwin/AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File and Halyna Hutchins/Instagram]
