Alec Baldwin may be charged again with the shooting that occurred on the movie set of Rust if a second investigation of the gun in question concludes that he fired it.
'Rust' Shooting Case
Baldwin has always claimed that the October 2021 shooting death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, age 42, and the injury of director Joel Souza, age 32, on the set in New Mexico were not his doing.
In April, he was cleared of involuntary manslaughter charges because prosecutors said the weapon may have been altered before the incident and malfunctioned. But, the prosecution had a fresh examination of the firearm used.
Special prosecutors Kari Morrissey and Jason Lewis of Santa Fe County were given the results of a new firearms analysis study on August 2, indicating that the weapon had not been altered.
Analysis of the Colt.45 prop revolver, cartridges, and video footage were included in the report written by weapons specialist Lucien C. Haag of Carefree, Arizona, and forensic science consultant Michael G. Haag of Albuquerque, New Mexico.
After the Federal Bureau of Investigation's study, the pistol was damaged, but the specialists fixed it and confirmed that it worked as intended.
Follow-up Study on Disputed Gun
"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," Lucien Haag stated in a report by NBC News.
"From an examination of the fired cartridge case and the operationally restored evidence revolver, this fatal incident was the consequence of the hammer being manually retracted to its fully rearward and cocked position followed, at some point, by the pull or rearward depression of the trigger."
Shots from on-set footage were provided to the experts, and they included one showing Baldwin dressed in Western garb inside a makeshift church. One still image showed his right index finger on or near the trigger of a long-barreled revolver as he cocks the hammer, according to Haag.
Moreover, in two additional shots, Baldwin's right index finger can be seen inside the trigger guard and either on or near the trigger, as Haag pointed out.
Lawyers for Rust armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, who is still facing involuntary manslaughter charges in the case, submitted a request on Tuesday, August 15, that contained the findings. The report's conclusions were brought up, and the court was asked to provide the jury with instructions on causation.
Special prosecutor Morrissey had earlier informed NBC News via email on August 7 that a decision had not been made on the charges against Baldwin.
