Officials suspect there were additional live rounds on ‘Rust’ set when Halyna Hutchins was fatally shot

Investigators suspect there were additional live rounds on the “Rust” set when a shot from a prop firearm fatally wounded cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, officials said Wednesday, adding that no one, including actor Alec Baldwin, has been ruled out from facing charges.

An initial investigation determined Baldwin was rehearsing on the Western movie’s set in New Mexico last Thursday when he fired the weapon that struck Hutchins, the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office said during a press conference.

“We suspect that there were other live rounds, but that’s up to the testing,” Sheriff Adan Mendoza said Wednesday. “Right now, we’re going to determine how those got there, and why they were there, because they shouldn’t have been.”

Authorities consider it too early in the process to determine whether charges will be filed in the shooting incident, which also wounded the film’s director, Joel Souza.

Three firearms and 500 rounds of ammunition — which authorities suspect included a combination of blanks, dummy bullets and live rounds — were among approximately 600 pieces of evidence recovered from the scene, Mendoza said.

The gun involved in the shooting was also handled or inspected by two others on set: armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed and assistant director Dave Halls, according to Mendoza, who said he wasn’t sure whether Baldwin is still in New Mexico.

“All three individuals have been cooperative in the investigation,” Mendoza said.

The sheriff’s office was dispatched to the movie’s set at Bonanza Creek Ranch in Santa Fe shortly before 2 p.m. last Thursday after receiving a report that two people had been shot.

Halls previously told investigators he didn’t know the gun was loaded when he gave it to Baldwin.

“We believe that we have in our possession the firearm that was fired by Mr. Baldwin,” Mendoza said. “This is the firearm we believe discharged the bullet. We also believe that we have the spent shell casing from the bullet that was fired from the gun. The actual lead projectile that was fired has been recovered from the shoulder of Mr. Souza.”

Mendoza said the projectile removed from Souza’s shoulder was “apparently the same round” that struck Hutchins, but noted the medical investigator will make an official determination.

District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies said she won’t rush to judgment when it comes to filing potential charges, pointing to the need for a thorough investigation.

“We are not at the juncture yet,” Carmack-Altwies said at Wednesday’s press conference. “If the facts and evidence and law support charges, then I will initiate prosecution at that time.”

The three guns recovered by authorities included the firearm believed to have been fired by Baldwin; a non-functioning plastic revolver; and a revolver that appeared to have been modified, which Mendoza said “may not be functioning.”

No footage of the fatal incident was recovered by the sheriff’s office.

“I think there was some complacency on this set,” Mendoza said. “I think there are some safety issues that need to be addressed by the industry and possibly by the state of New Mexico.

There were around 100 people on the “Rust” set last Thursday, and officials plan to complete more interviews as their probe continues.

Mendoza said authorities are “aware” of reports that crew members used the gun for target practice away from the film’s set, and are looking into whether those claims are true.

Baldwin, who is also a producer for the movie, tweeted his condolences for Hutchins last Friday and said he is fully cooperating with officials.

“There are no words to convey my shock and sadness regarding the tragic accident that took the life of Halyna Hutchins, a wife, mother and deeply admired colleague of ours,” Baldwin wrote.