Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza stated Tuesday that he awaits a forensic analysis from the FBI and the state medical examiners to determine if criminal charges will be filed.
“There is some neglect. The district attorney will decide if it reaches the criminal level. The Western was shot at a ranch near Santa Fe.
A vast collection of law enforcement files has been released. This includes lapel camera video showing the mortally injured Hutchins drifting in and out of consciousness while an evacuation helicopter arrives. The evidence collection includes witness interrogations and text conversations, inventory of ammunition, hundreds of photos, and email threads.
One video shows a deputy sheriff arriving as medics try to treat Hutchins in a small wooden church. This was filmed during a rehearsal for filming.
“Halyna, deep breath. “There you are, good girl,” exhorts a medic to Hutchins, who is urged to inhale through an oxygen mask.
A medical evacuation helicopter is seen landing in the desert outside. Baldwin is still wearing a 19th-century costume and a law enforcement officer watches him as he smokes cigarettes with other cast members.
In response to media requests and in an effort to increase transparency during the investigation, the evidence was made publicly. Mendoza is a Democrat and is running for reelection with a competitive June primary.
Recent documents reveal that authorities have accessed cellphone accounts to obtain text messages, images, and audio files from the cast, crew, and munitions suppliers for the movie “Rust”. Text messages describe two misfires of firearms, but none involved live ammunition.
Other videos show investigators debriefing Baldwin within hours of his fatal shooting. They also show rehearsal clips in which Baldwin is seen in costume while he tries to pull a quick draw with a gun.
Baldwin’s attorney claims that Baldwin and his “Rust” co-producer were careful with guns while on set.
“Mr. Attorney Luke Nikas released a statement saying that Baldwin welcomed the investigation. “The authorities have revealed information which shows that Mr. Baldwin acted responsibly.
Two investigators interrogated Baldwin and he stated that he didn’t know Hutchins was going to die when the gun went off. He also revealed that he had a gun with live ammunition. In a December interview with ABC News , Baldwin stated that he was on the set and pointed the gun at Hutchins when the trigger went off.
Baldwin stated to investigators that the gun should not have been used for rehearsals without filming.
“There shouldn’t have been anything. Baldwin states that it should have had a cold gun without any rounds or dummy round inside. I slowly take the gun out. I turn and cock the pistol. It goes off. Hutchins (She) is thrown to the ground.”
Baldwin repeated the claim that there were no problems with firearms prior to “Rust” being set.
These statements are inconsistent with recent findings of state occupational safety regulators who issued a maximum fine of almost $137,000 last week against the Rust film production company.
New Mexico’s Occupational Health and Safety Bureau presented a scathing account of safety failures that violated industry protocols. It also included testimony that production managers did not take any action to correct the other two misfires.
Also, the bureau documented crew members’ gun safety complaints that were ignored and stated that weapons specialists were not permitted to make decisions regarding additional safety training. Rust Movie Productions indicated that it would contest the findings and sanctions.
There have been at least five lawsuits filed regarding the shooting. One of these lawsuits was a wrongful-death lawsuit brought against Baldwin and other producers by Hutchins’ families. Matt Hutchins, a widower, and his nine-year-old son claim that he was treated with “callous disregard” when safety concerns were raised on set.
