Nearly a year after the fatal 'Rust' shooting claimed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins' life, the FBI released a forensics report which stated that the gun used on the set couldn’t have been fired unless someone pulled its trigger. To respond to the FBI findings, AB's lawyer has spoken to a few publications and has cleared the actor's stance.

Nikas told Fox News, "The FBI report is being misconstrued." He added, "The gun fired in testing only one time -- without having to pull the trigger -- when the hammer was pulled back and the gun broke in two different places. The FBI was unable to fire the gun in any prior test, even when pulling the trigger because it was in such poor condition."

Nikas also said that the FBI's report on the gun doesn't even matter because the Santa Fe Medical Investigator's Office have ruled Halyna's death as an accident.

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"The critical report is the one from the medical examiner, who concluded that this was a tragic accident. This is the third time the New Mexico authorities have found that Alec Baldwin had no authority or knowledge of the allegedly unsafe conditions on the set, that he was told by the person in charge of safety on the set that the gun was ‘cold,’ and believed the gun was safe," Nikas concluded.

According to the FBI report obtained by ABC News, the .45 Colt calibre F.lli Pietta single-action revolver "could not be made to fire if the hammer was placed in quarter-and half-cock position". The conclusions in the report were derived from accidental discharge testing that used a similar gun.

All of the findings in the case have been sent to New Mexico officials for further consideration.&nbsp;Prosecutors have yet to determine if any charges should be filed in this case based on the latest reports.

Nearly a year after the fatal 'Rust' shooting claimed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins' life, the FBI released a forensics report which stated that the gun used on the set couldn’t have been fired unless someone pulled its trigger.

Nearly a year after the fatal 'Rust' shooting claimed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins' life, the FBI released a forensics report which stated that the gun used on the set couldn’t have been fired unless someone pulled its trigger. To respond to the FBI findings, AB's lawyer has spoken to a few publications and has cleared the actor's stance. Nikas told Fox News, "The FBI report is being misconstrued." He added, "The gun fired in testing only one time -- without having to pull the trigger -- when the hammer was pulled back and the gun broke in two different places. The FBI was unable to fire the gun in any prior test, even when pulling the trigger because it was in such poor condition." Nikas also said that the FBI's report on the gun doesn't even matter because the Santa Fe Medical Investigator's Office have ruled Halyna's death as an accident. Also read: 'Wednesday' first look: Meet the new Addams family from upcoming Netflix series "The critical report is the one from the medical examiner, who concluded that this was a tragic accident. This is the third time the New Mexico authorities have found that Alec Baldwin had no authority or knowledge of the allegedly unsafe conditions on the set, that he was told by the person in charge of safety on the set that the gun was ‘cold,’ and believed the gun was safe," Nikas concluded. According to the FBI report obtained by ABC News, the .45 Colt calibre F.lli Pietta single-action revolver "could not be made to fire if the hammer was placed in quarter-and half-cock position". The conclusions in the report were derived from accidental discharge testing that used a similar gun. All of the findings in the case have been sent to New Mexico officials for further consideration. Prosecutors have yet to determine if any charges should be filed in this case based on the latest reports.

'Rust' shooting: Alec Baldwin's lawyer says FBI report is being 'misconstrued'

The family of late cinematographer Halyna&nbsp;Hutchins, who was killed during the filming of the Western 'Rust' in late 2021, filed a wrongful death suit against actor Alec Baldwin and others on Tuesday, claiming they disregarded several industry-wide practices meant to keep movie sets safe. 
 
The suit was filed in Santa Fe County, New Mexico, on behalf of Matthew Hutchins, husband of late cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, and the couple's 9-year-old son. 
 
"The lawsuit names Alec Baldwin and others who are responsible for the safety on the set and whose reckless behavior and cost-cutting led to the senseless and tragic death of Halyna Hutchins," attorney Brian Panish told a news conference in Los Angeles. 
 
Halyna Hutchins was killed and director Joel Souza was wounded when a gun Baldwin was using during a rehearsal fired off a live bullet. The movie was being filmed at Bonanza Creek Ranch in New Mexico. 
 
Baldwin has said he was told the gun was "cold," an industry term meaning it is safe to use, and that he did not pull the trigger. Baldwin`s attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Tuesday. 
 
Panish said Baldwin bore "a significant portion of liability" because he was holding the weapon that killed Hutchins. 
The attorney showed an animated recreation of what he believed happened inside the church where actors were filming when the shooting occurred. He said he did not believe the weapon was defective. 
 
"The gun cannot fire unless the trigger is engaged and the hammer is back," Panish said. "So he had the gun. He says he pulled the hammer back. It fired. She was killed." 
 
The incident is still under investigation by New Mexico authorities. No criminal charges have been filed. 
 
The wrongful death suit named about two dozen defendants in addition to Baldwin, including armorer Hannah Gutierrez Reed and assistant director David Halls. Representatives for Gutierrez Reed and Halls did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The family of late cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, who was killed during the filming of the Western 'Rust' in late 2021, filed a wrongful death suit against actor Alec Baldwin and others on Tuesday, claiming they disregarded several industry-wide practices meant to keep movie sets safe.

The family of late cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, who was killed during the filming of the Western 'Rust' in late 2021, filed a wrongful death suit against actor Alec Baldwin and others on Tuesday, claiming they disregarded several industry-wide practices meant to keep movie sets safe. The suit was filed in Santa Fe County, New Mexico, on behalf of Matthew Hutchins, husband of late cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, and the couple's 9-year-old son. "The lawsuit names Alec Baldwin and others who are responsible for the safety on the set and whose reckless behavior and cost-cutting led to the senseless and tragic death of Halyna Hutchins," attorney Brian Panish told a news conference in Los Angeles. Halyna Hutchins was killed and director Joel Souza was wounded when a gun Baldwin was using during a rehearsal fired off a live bullet. The movie was being filmed at Bonanza Creek Ranch in New Mexico. Baldwin has said he was told the gun was "cold," an industry term meaning it is safe to use, and that he did not pull the trigger. Baldwin`s attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Tuesday. Panish said Baldwin bore "a significant portion of liability" because he was holding the weapon that killed Hutchins. The attorney showed an animated recreation of what he believed happened inside the church where actors were filming when the shooting occurred. He said he did not believe the weapon was defective. "The gun cannot fire unless the trigger is engaged and the hammer is back," Panish said. "So he had the gun. He says he pulled the hammer back. It fired. She was killed." The incident is still under investigation by New Mexico authorities. No criminal charges have been filed. The wrongful death suit named about two dozen defendants in addition to Baldwin, including armorer Hannah Gutierrez Reed and assistant director David Halls. Representatives for Gutierrez Reed and Halls did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Family of cinematographer killed on 'Rust' set sues Alec Baldwin

Alec Baldwin's first public account of the fatal shooting on the set of his movie 'Rust' will be broadcast on Thursday, about six weeks after a gun he was using during a rehearsal fired off a live bullet, killing a cinematographer. 
 
Baldwin has given an interview that ABC television`s George Stephanopoulos described as raw and detailed. ABC will broadcast the interview about the tragedy, which is still being investigated by authorities in New Mexico, on Thursday evening. 
 
In an advance excerpt, Baldwin said he did not pull the trigger on the gun, opening the possibility that the .45 caliber Colt revolver had gone off accidentally. 
 
"I would never point a gun at anyone and pull a trigger at them," Baldwin says, according to the excerpt. 
 
Baldwin also told Stephanopoulos that he had "no idea" how a live bullet got on the movie set and that it was not supposed to be on the property. 
 
"I think back and I think about what I could have done," he told Stephanopoulos. 
 
The Santa Fe Sheriff`s Department, which interviewed Baldwin immediately after the incident but has not disclosed what he told them, said on Wednesday it had no comment on his remarks. 
 
An attorney for 'Rust' assistant director Dave Halls said during an interview on 'Good Morning America' that her client corroborated Baldwin's account of the incident. 
 
"Dave has told me since the very first day I met him that Alec did not pull that trigger," attorney Lisa Torraco said of her client, who was on the set. "His finger was never in the trigger guard." 
 
Torraco did not elaborate on what Halls may have told her about what he had seen in the seconds before the gun discharged. 
 
Baldwin, best known for playing an egotistical TV network executive on the TV comedy series '30 Rock,' has kept a low profile since the Oct. 21 accident at the Bonanza Creek Ranch. He was the star and also a producer on the low-budget Western. 
 
Cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was killed and director Joel Souza was wounded when a gun Baldwin had been told by crew members was safe fired a live bullet. 
 
"She was someone who was loved by everyone who worked with and liked by everyone who worked with (her), and admired," Baldwin said during the Stephanopoulos interview. 
 
No criminal charges have been filed. The film`s producers have said they are also conducting an internal probe. 
 
Santa Fe authorities are focusing on how a live bullet, rather than a blank, ended up in the gun and how other live rounds got onto the set. Court documents on Wednesday showed that authorities had recovered some suspected live ammunition from a local supplier of movie props and weapons. 
 
Baldwin was photographed in distress after the shooting and said in a statement that he was shocked and heartbroken for Hutchins` husband and young son. 
 
He spoke briefly with paparazzi on a roadside in October when he called the shooting a "one in a trillion" episode. 
 
Two crew members have filed civil lawsuits accusing Baldwin, the producers and others on the production of negligence and lax safety protocols.

Alec Baldwin's first public account of the fatal shooting on the set of his movie 'Rust' will be broadcast on Thursday, about six weeks after a gun he was using during a rehearsal fired off a live bullet, killing a cinematographer.

Alec Baldwin's first public account of the fatal shooting on the set of his movie 'Rust' will be broadcast on Thursday, about six weeks after a gun he was using during a rehearsal fired off a live bullet, killing a cinematographer. Baldwin has given an interview that ABC television`s George Stephanopoulos described as raw and detailed. ABC will broadcast the interview about the tragedy, which is still being investigated by authorities in New Mexico, on Thursday evening. In an advance excerpt, Baldwin said he did not pull the trigger on the gun, opening the possibility that the .45 caliber Colt revolver had gone off accidentally. "I would never point a gun at anyone and pull a trigger at them," Baldwin says, according to the excerpt. Baldwin also told Stephanopoulos that he had "no idea" how a live bullet got on the movie set and that it was not supposed to be on the property. "I think back and I think about what I could have done," he told Stephanopoulos. The Santa Fe Sheriff`s Department, which interviewed Baldwin immediately after the incident but has not disclosed what he told them, said on Wednesday it had no comment on his remarks. An attorney for 'Rust' assistant director Dave Halls said during an interview on 'Good Morning America' that her client corroborated Baldwin's account of the incident. "Dave has told me since the very first day I met him that Alec did not pull that trigger," attorney Lisa Torraco said of her client, who was on the set. "His finger was never in the trigger guard." Torraco did not elaborate on what Halls may have told her about what he had seen in the seconds before the gun discharged. Baldwin, best known for playing an egotistical TV network executive on the TV comedy series '30 Rock,' has kept a low profile since the Oct. 21 accident at the Bonanza Creek Ranch. He was the star and also a producer on the low-budget Western. Cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was killed and director Joel Souza was wounded when a gun Baldwin had been told by crew members was safe fired a live bullet. "She was someone who was loved by everyone who worked with and liked by everyone who worked with (her), and admired," Baldwin said during the Stephanopoulos interview. No criminal charges have been filed. The film`s producers have said they are also conducting an internal probe. Santa Fe authorities are focusing on how a live bullet, rather than a blank, ended up in the gun and how other live rounds got onto the set. Court documents on Wednesday showed that authorities had recovered some suspected live ammunition from a local supplier of movie props and weapons. Baldwin was photographed in distress after the shooting and said in a statement that he was shocked and heartbroken for Hutchins` husband and young son. He spoke briefly with paparazzi on a roadside in October when he called the shooting a "one in a trillion" episode. Two crew members have filed civil lawsuits accusing Baldwin, the producers and others on the production of negligence and lax safety protocols.

Alec Baldwin to give his account of fatal 'Rust' shooting in a TV interview 

Lawsuits seeking to assign civil liability in the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins would be most likely to name the 'Rust'&nbsp;crew member who inspected the gun, the assistant director who handed it to actor Alec Baldwin and possibly others in the production company, experts said on Wednesday. 
 
New Mexico authorities have not ruled out criminal charges in the case. While rehearsing a scene on the movie set, Baldwin accidentally fired a gun that he had been told was safe. The shot killed Hutchins and injured director Joel Souza. 
 
COULD THERE BE CRIMINAL CHARGES? 
 
Experts said criminal charges are possible, though likely not against Baldwin. 
 
"For a criminal case, you`re going to need some sort of actual intent, or criminal negligence, gross negligence. That`s ... something more than pointing the gun," said former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani in Los Angeles. 
 
The criminal investigation will likely focus instead on how the gun came to be loaded. "I think having live ballistic rounds on a movie set is inexcusable and rises to the level of gross negligence that you see in a criminal charge," said lawyer Jeff Harris of Harris Lowry Manton. 
 
WHAT COULD THE GROUNDS FOR LAWSUITS BE? 
 
Hutchins'&nbsp;family and Souza could file civil lawsuits for financial damages, legal experts said. 
 
These lawsuits would most likely argue negligence, legally defined as a failure to exercise a reasonable level of care. 
 
Such claims got a boost from the revelation by Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza on Wednesday that the gun handed to Baldwin contained a live round despite having been inspected and declared safe by two people, armorer Hannah Gutierrez and assistant director David Halls, and that other live rounds were found on the set. 
 
"It`s pretty obvious; somebody had to be negligent," said University of Southern California law professor Gregory Keating. 
 
WHO COULD BE SUED? 
 
Harris, who represented the family of a stuntman on AMC`s "The Walking Dead" in a wrongful death case, said both Gutierrez and Halls could be sued. Bryan Sullivan of Early Sullivan, a Los Angeles entertainment attorney, agreed. 
 
Harris said the 'Rust'&nbsp;production company, people in supervisory roles and people involved in hiring decisions could also be targeted. 
 
Allocating liability could take years of litigation. The outcome would determine who might have to pay financial damages and how much. 
 
"It`s very common to have multiple defendants whose negligence intermingles with each other," Harris said. 
 
Baldwin probably will not be held civilly liable for firing the gun after being told it was safe. However, he could face liability as one of the film`s producers, said Sullivan. 
 
A court "would look at who had ultimate authority to ensure the safety of the set," he said. 
 
WHAT ARE THE OBSTACLES TO DAMAGE CLAIMS? 
 
Defendants in a civil lawsuit would likely argue the shooting was a workplace accident, meaning that the victims could only seek payment through workers` compensation insurance. 
 
However, University of New Mexico School of Law professor Sonia Gipson Rankin said the victims could seek to prove that defendants had ignored safety concerns in the past and were knowingly acting in a dangerous way. 
 
If successful, the victims might be able to seek damages in court, rather than through workers` compensation.

Lawsuits seeking to assign civil liability in the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins would be most likely to name the 'Rust' crew member who inspected the gun, the assistant director who handed it to actor Alec Baldwin and possibly others in the production company, experts said on Wednesday.

Lawsuits seeking to assign civil liability in the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins would be most likely to name the 'Rust' crew member who inspected the gun, the assistant director who handed it to actor Alec Baldwin and possibly others in the production company, experts said on Wednesday. New Mexico authorities have not ruled out criminal charges in the case. While rehearsing a scene on the movie set, Baldwin accidentally fired a gun that he had been told was safe. The shot killed Hutchins and injured director Joel Souza. COULD THERE BE CRIMINAL CHARGES? Experts said criminal charges are possible, though likely not against Baldwin. "For a criminal case, you`re going to need some sort of actual intent, or criminal negligence, gross negligence. That`s ... something more than pointing the gun," said former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani in Los Angeles. The criminal investigation will likely focus instead on how the gun came to be loaded. "I think having live ballistic rounds on a movie set is inexcusable and rises to the level of gross negligence that you see in a criminal charge," said lawyer Jeff Harris of Harris Lowry Manton. WHAT COULD THE GROUNDS FOR LAWSUITS BE? Hutchins' family and Souza could file civil lawsuits for financial damages, legal experts said. These lawsuits would most likely argue negligence, legally defined as a failure to exercise a reasonable level of care. Such claims got a boost from the revelation by Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza on Wednesday that the gun handed to Baldwin contained a live round despite having been inspected and declared safe by two people, armorer Hannah Gutierrez and assistant director David Halls, and that other live rounds were found on the set. "It`s pretty obvious; somebody had to be negligent," said University of Southern California law professor Gregory Keating. WHO COULD BE SUED? Harris, who represented the family of a stuntman on AMC`s "The Walking Dead" in a wrongful death case, said both Gutierrez and Halls could be sued. Bryan Sullivan of Early Sullivan, a Los Angeles entertainment attorney, agreed. Harris said the 'Rust' production company, people in supervisory roles and people involved in hiring decisions could also be targeted. Allocating liability could take years of litigation. The outcome would determine who might have to pay financial damages and how much. "It`s very common to have multiple defendants whose negligence intermingles with each other," Harris said. Baldwin probably will not be held civilly liable for firing the gun after being told it was safe. However, he could face liability as one of the film`s producers, said Sullivan. A court "would look at who had ultimate authority to ensure the safety of the set," he said. WHAT ARE THE OBSTACLES TO DAMAGE CLAIMS? Defendants in a civil lawsuit would likely argue the shooting was a workplace accident, meaning that the victims could only seek payment through workers` compensation insurance. However, University of New Mexico School of Law professor Sonia Gipson Rankin said the victims could seek to prove that defendants had ignored safety concerns in the past and were knowingly acting in a dangerous way. If successful, the victims might be able to seek damages in court, rather than through workers` compensation.

Explainer - Who faces legal liability in 'Rust' shooting case?

A .45-caliber Colt revolver used on the set of the film 'Rust'&nbsp;was not thoroughly checked before being given to actor Alec Baldwin, who fired a live lead bullet in an accidental fatal shooting last week in New Mexico, according to officials and a new court filing. 
 
New details about the incident emerged on Wednesday during a news conference by Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza and District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies and in an affidavit filed by the sheriff`s department. Mendoza told reporters there was a complacent attitude toward safety on the set before last Thursday`s shooting that killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins during a rehearsal. 
 
Hannah Gutierrez, the crew member in charge of weapons on the set, told investigators she had checked guns there but found no "hot rounds" - apparently meaning live ammunition - before the shooting, according to the affidavit. 
 
Dave Halls, the film`s assistant director, told investigators he "should have checked all" the rounds in the gun before handing it to Baldwin but had not done so, according to the affidavit. Authorities said previously that Baldwin was handed what he thought was a "cold," or safe, gun by Halls, who took it from a cart used by Gutierrez. 
 
Mendoza and Carmack-Altwies said while no criminal charges have been filed, they are not ruling out that possibility. 
 
"All options are on the table. ... No one has been ruled out at this point," Carmack-Altwies said of potential charges. 
 
Gutierrez, whose job is formally called the film crew`s armorer, said ammunition was not secured on the set during a lunch break before the shooting, the affidavit showed. It quoted her as saying that firearms were secured inside a safe kept on a white truck during the break and that no live ammunition is ever kept on a movie set. 
 
"Only a few people" had access to the safe and knew the combination to open it, Gutierrez said, according to the affidavit. 
 
A judge approved a request by investigators to search the truck on Wednesday. 
 
Authorities have collected 600 pieces of evidence including three firearms, 500 rounds of ammunition - some believed to be live bullets - and several pieces of clothing and accessories in the ongoing investigation, Mendoza said. Some evidence is being sent to an FBI crime lab for analysis, Mendoza added. 
 
Authorities have the firearm used in the shooting and recovered the bullet from the shoulder of director Joel Souza, who was wounded but later released from the hospital, Mendoza said. It appears the same bullet struck Souza and Hutchins, Mendoza added. 
 
Mendoza said the gun used by Baldwin was an Italian-made Pietta Long Colt revolver. 
 
"We would consider it a live round - a bullet, live - because it did fire from the weapon and obviously caused the death of Ms. Hutchins and injured Mr. Souza," Mendoza said. 
 
Baldwin, 63, serves as a co-producer of "Rust," a Western film set in 1880s Kansas. Production on the Bonanza Creek Ranch, near Santa Fe, has been halted. 
 
Mendoza said Baldwin, Halls and Gutierrez all are cooperating with the investigation. 
 
Asked about the use of real weapons on a movie set, the sheriff said, "I think the industry has had a record recently of being safe. I think there was some complacency on this set. And I think there are some safety issues that need to be addressed by the industry and possibly by the state of New Mexico." 
 
The shooting https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/alec-baldwin-fires-gun-movie-set-killing-cinematographer-authorities-say-2021-10-22 has sent shockwaves through Hollywood, prompting a debate about safety protocols in film and television - including whether certain types of guns https://www.reuters.com/world/us/prop-guns-spark-debate-after-cinematographers-death-set-2021-10-22 used as props should be banned - and working conditions on low-budget productions. 
 
Before the incident, camera operators had walked off the set to protest working conditions. 
 
Baldwin was drawing a revolver https://www.reuters.com/world/us/alec-baldwin-seen-consoling-family-slain-cinematographer-set-problems-mount-2021-10-24 across his body and pointing it at a camera while rehearsing when the weapon fired, according to court documents. There is no video footage of the incident, Mendoza said. 
 
The film`s producers have hired the law firm https://www.reuters.com/article/us-film-rust-shooting-lawfirm-idUSKBN2HH24S Jenner &amp; Block to investigate the shooting. In a letter sent to cast and crew, the film`s production team said Jenner "will have full discretion about who to interview and any conclusions they draw." 
 
(Reporting by Lisa Richwine; Additional reporting by Brendan O`Brien, David Thomas, Doina Chiacu and Jill Serjeant; Editing by Will Dunham) 
&nbsp;

A .45-caliber Colt revolver used on the set of the film 'Rust' was not thoroughly checked before being given to actor Alec Baldwin, who fired a live lead bullet in an accidental fatal shooting last week in New Mexico, according to officials and a new court filing.

A .45-caliber Colt revolver used on the set of the film 'Rust' was not thoroughly checked before being given to actor Alec Baldwin, who fired a live lead bullet in an accidental fatal shooting last week in New Mexico, according to officials and a new court filing. New details about the incident emerged on Wednesday during a news conference by Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza and District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies and in an affidavit filed by the sheriff`s department. Mendoza told reporters there was a complacent attitude toward safety on the set before last Thursday`s shooting that killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins during a rehearsal. Hannah Gutierrez, the crew member in charge of weapons on the set, told investigators she had checked guns there but found no "hot rounds" - apparently meaning live ammunition - before the shooting, according to the affidavit. Dave Halls, the film`s assistant director, told investigators he "should have checked all" the rounds in the gun before handing it to Baldwin but had not done so, according to the affidavit. Authorities said previously that Baldwin was handed what he thought was a "cold," or safe, gun by Halls, who took it from a cart used by Gutierrez. Mendoza and Carmack-Altwies said while no criminal charges have been filed, they are not ruling out that possibility. "All options are on the table. ... No one has been ruled out at this point," Carmack-Altwies said of potential charges. Gutierrez, whose job is formally called the film crew`s armorer, said ammunition was not secured on the set during a lunch break before the shooting, the affidavit showed. It quoted her as saying that firearms were secured inside a safe kept on a white truck during the break and that no live ammunition is ever kept on a movie set. "Only a few people" had access to the safe and knew the combination to open it, Gutierrez said, according to the affidavit. A judge approved a request by investigators to search the truck on Wednesday. Authorities have collected 600 pieces of evidence including three firearms, 500 rounds of ammunition - some believed to be live bullets - and several pieces of clothing and accessories in the ongoing investigation, Mendoza said. Some evidence is being sent to an FBI crime lab for analysis, Mendoza added. Authorities have the firearm used in the shooting and recovered the bullet from the shoulder of director Joel Souza, who was wounded but later released from the hospital, Mendoza said. It appears the same bullet struck Souza and Hutchins, Mendoza added. Mendoza said the gun used by Baldwin was an Italian-made Pietta Long Colt revolver. "We would consider it a live round - a bullet, live - because it did fire from the weapon and obviously caused the death of Ms. Hutchins and injured Mr. Souza," Mendoza said. Baldwin, 63, serves as a co-producer of "Rust," a Western film set in 1880s Kansas. Production on the Bonanza Creek Ranch, near Santa Fe, has been halted. Mendoza said Baldwin, Halls and Gutierrez all are cooperating with the investigation. Asked about the use of real weapons on a movie set, the sheriff said, "I think the industry has had a record recently of being safe. I think there was some complacency on this set. And I think there are some safety issues that need to be addressed by the industry and possibly by the state of New Mexico." The shooting https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/alec-baldwin-fires-gun-movie-set-killing-cinematographer-authorities-say-2021-10-22 has sent shockwaves through Hollywood, prompting a debate about safety protocols in film and television - including whether certain types of guns https://www.reuters.com/world/us/prop-guns-spark-debate-after-cinematographers-death-set-2021-10-22 used as props should be banned - and working conditions on low-budget productions. Before the incident, camera operators had walked off the set to protest working conditions. Baldwin was drawing a revolver https://www.reuters.com/world/us/alec-baldwin-seen-consoling-family-slain-cinematographer-set-problems-mount-2021-10-24 across his body and pointing it at a camera while rehearsing when the weapon fired, according to court documents. There is no video footage of the incident, Mendoza said. The film`s producers have hired the law firm https://www.reuters.com/article/us-film-rust-shooting-lawfirm-idUSKBN2HH24S Jenner & Block to investigate the shooting. In a letter sent to cast and crew, the film`s production team said Jenner "will have full discretion about who to interview and any conclusions they draw." (Reporting by Lisa Richwine; Additional reporting by Brendan O`Brien, David Thomas, Doina Chiacu and Jill Serjeant; Editing by Will Dunham)

Gun not thoroughly checked before Alec Baldwin fired fatal shot