Rust On-Set Shooting / Halyna Hutchins
On October 21, 2021, at the Bonanza Creek Ranch in Bonanza City, New Mexico, cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was fatally shot and director Joel Souza was injured on the set of the film Rust when a live round was discharged from a revolver that actor Alec Baldwin was using as a prop.
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Case overview
On October 21, 2021, cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, 42, was fatally shot and director Joel Souza was wounded on the set of the low-budget Western film "Rust" at the Bonanza Creek Ranch outside Santa Fe, New Mexico. [Actor and co-producer Alec Baldwin had been rehearsing a scene, pointing a Colt .45 revolver toward the camera, when the weapon discharged.](https://www.nytimes.com/live/2021/10/22/us/alec-baldwin-shooting-movie-set) Assistant director David Halls had handed Baldwin the firearm and called "cold gun," indicating it was safe. Armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed was responsible for the set's firearm safety.
Investigators found live ammunition mixed with dummy rounds in both the revolver and a supply kit on set. The source of the live cartridges was not definitively established at trial. The production had received safety complaints from other crew members before the incident, and at least one unintentional discharge had occurred on set earlier. The Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office conducted the investigation.
Halyna Hutchins' husband reached a civil settlement with the production; he was brought on as an executive producer for the completed film, which was released in 2024. Criminal charges were filed against Gutierrez-Reed, Halls, and Baldwin. Gutierrez-Reed was convicted of involuntary manslaughter on March 6, 2024, and sentenced to 18 months in prison. The charges against Baldwin were dismissed on July 12, 2024.
The case reignited industry debate about the use of live ammunition on film sets.
State Charges — Gutierrez-Reed
Hannah Gutierrez-Reed was charged with involuntary manslaughter and evidence tampering in New Mexico. She was convicted of involuntary manslaughter on March 6, 2024, in Santa Fe County. Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer sentenced her to 18 months in prison on April 15, 2024.
State Charges — Halls
State Charges — Baldwin
[Alec Baldwin was charged with involuntary manslaughter. On July 12, 2024, Judge Sommer dismissed the case with prejudice, finding prosecutors had withheld potentially exculpatory evidence in violation of Brady v. Maryland.](https://apnews.com/article/alec-baldwin-rust-shooting-charges-dropped-halyna-hutchins) Prosecutors appealed the dismissal.
Current Status
As of March 2026, the New Mexico Court of Appeals has not issued a ruling on the prosecution's appeal. Gutierrez-Reed completed her sentence. The film "Rust" was released in 2024.
August 23, 2024
All Criminal Charges Against Alec Baldwin Permanently Dropped
Judge Sommer dismissed all criminal charges against Baldwin with prejudice after finding prosecutors withheld evidence from the defense, permanently barring re-prosecution.
Source →July 12, 2024
Baldwin's Charges Dismissed
Baldwin's involuntary manslaughter charges were dismissed with prejudice after the judge found prosecutors had withheld evidence.
Source →April 15, 2024
Gutierrez-Reed Sentenced to Maximum 18 Months in Prison
Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer sentenced Hannah Gutierrez-Reed to the maximum 18 months in New Mexico prison for involuntary manslaughter in the death of Halyna Hutchins.
Source →March 6, 2024
Armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed Convicted of Involuntary Manslaughter
Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the armorer responsible for weapons on the Rust set, was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter for her role in Halyna Hutchins' death.
Source →February 17, 2023
Hannah Gutierrez-Reed Charged
Film armorer Gutierrez-Reed was charged with involuntary manslaughter, convicted March 2024, sentenced to 18 months.
Source →January 19, 2023
Alec Baldwin Charged with Involuntary Manslaughter
New Mexico prosecutors charged Alec Baldwin with two counts of involuntary manslaughter in the death of Halyna Hutchins, nearly 15 months after the on-set shooting.
Source →February 15, 2022
Hutchins Family Files Wrongful Death Lawsuit Against Baldwin
The family of Halyna Hutchins filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Alec Baldwin, the film's producers, and others, alleging negligence and safety violations on the Rust set.
Source →November 1, 2021
Investigators Confirm Live Ammunition Found on the Rust Set
Santa Fe County investigators confirmed live ammunition — not blanks — was present in the revolver and found on the Rust set, raising critical questions about armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed's practices.
Source →October 22, 2021
Halyna Hutchins Dies from Gunshot Wound; Production Halted
Halyna Hutchins died from her wounds on October 22, 2021. Production on Rust was immediately suspended and the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office opened a criminal investigation.
Source →October 21, 2021
Director Joel Souza Also Wounded in Rust Set Accident
When Baldwin discharged the prop gun, the bullet passed through Halyna Hutchins and struck director Joel Souza in the shoulder. Souza survived and later settled civil claims against Baldwin.
Source →
Halyna Hutchins
Halyna Anatoliivna Hutchins was a Ukrainian cinematographer. She worked on more than 30 feature-length films, short films, and TV miniseries, including the films Archenemy, Darlin', and Blindfire.
Alec Baldwin
Alec Baldwin is a veteran American actor and producer best known for his comedic portrayals on '30 Rock' and 'Saturday Night Live,' as well as major film roles across four decades. On October 21, 2021, while serving as both star and producer of the low-budget Western 'Rust' on a set near Santa Fe, New Mexico, he fired a gun during a rehearsal that discharged a live round, killing cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and wounding director Joel Souza.
Hannah Gutierrez-Reed
Armorer on the set of the film "Rust" who was responsible for firearm safety. She was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in March 2024 for the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and sentenced to 18 months in prison.
Joel Souza
Director of the film "Rust" who was wounded in the shoulder when Alec Baldwin discharged the prop gun that killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set in October 2021.
Firearm Used in Incident
The revolver that Alec Baldwin was holding during the incident, which discharged a live round, is crucial evidence as it directly relates to the cause of Halyna Hutchins' death.
apnews.comAutopsy Report
The autopsy report detailing the cause of death confirms that Halyna Hutchins died from a gunshot wound, establishing the fatal nature of the incident.
time.comWitness Testimonies
Multiple crew members present on the set provided testimonies regarding the events leading up to the shooting, which helps to establish the context and actions taken by Baldwin.
apnews.comProduction Safety Protocols
Documents outlining the safety protocols for handling firearms on set are significant for understanding whether proper procedures were followed during the filming.
apnews.comText Messages and Emails
Digital communications between crew members discussing safety concerns and the handling of firearms provide insight into the operational environment and potential negligence.
latimes.com
Other
1Alec Baldwin — Probable Cause Statement (Rust Shooting, 2023)
Probable cause statement filed by New Mexico prosecutors charging Alec Baldwin with involuntary manslaughter in the fatal on-set shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.