New Mexico fines ‘Rust’ production maximum amount after deadly on-set shooting

The state of New Mexico has levied the maximum fine on the production of the upcoming film “Rust,” after a fatal on-set shooting left one crew member dead last year.

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New Mexico’s Occupational Health and Safety Bureau has fined Rust Movie Productions $139,793, citing safety failures that violate standard industry protocols, The Associated Press reported.

The investigation found that production managers took little to no action after two misfires before the deadly shooting on Oct. 21, 2021.

There were also complaints from crew members that weapons specialists were not allowed to make decisions about additional safety training.

“What we had, based on our investigators’ findings, was a set of obvious hazards to employees regarding the use of firearms and management’s failure to act upon those obvious hazards,” Bob Genoway, the bureau chief for occupational safety, told the AP.

Officials said actor and producer Alec Baldwin was pointing a gun at cinematographer Halyna Hutchins while setting up for a scene. The gun went off, killing Hutchins and wounding director Joel Souza.

>>Previous coverage: Alec Baldwin shooting: ‘Rust’ director Joel Souza ‘gutted’ by on-set fatality

Baldwin said he was pointing the gun at the cinematographer after she directed him to do so, but the gun went off without him pulling the trigger, the AP reported.

>>Previous coverage: ‘Rust’ shooting: Halyna Hutchins’ family sues Alec Baldwin, film’s producers

The safety report also confirmed that the gun, which was called a large-caliber revolver, was given to the actor by the assistant director, David Halls, without checking on-set weapons specialists before and after the gun was loaded, the AP reported.

Investigators said production managers also had tight limits on the team that controlled weapons and did not address concerns when a shotgun was left unattended twice.

>>Previous coverage: Alec Baldwin shooting: ‘Rust’ armorer’s attorney suggests possible ‘sabotage’ on set

Armorer Hannah Gutierrez Reed was limited to eight paid days in her role, which was to oversee weapons and training. She was also assigned other duties such as being a prop assistant. When Reed was done with her armorer duties, she warned a manager but was rebuffed.

Reed is the daughter of a sharpshooter and film production consultant.

>>Previous coverage: Alec Baldwin calls for police on set after ‘Rust’ shooting

The investigation also found that there was no process to make sure live rounds were not brought to set, which violates industry safety protocols, the AP reported.

>>Previous coverage: Alec Baldwin shooting: Lead bullet among 500 rounds of ammunition recovered from ‘Rust’ set

Despite the concerns, no direct safety complaints were filed with the state, James Kenney, secretary of the Environment Department, said, according to the AP.

Kenney said that an investigation into possible criminal charges is ongoing.

>>Previous coverage: Alec Baldwin releases first statement after prop gun incident that killed cinematographer

A spokesperson for Rust Movie Productions did not respond to emails from the AP seeking comment.

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Photos: Alec Baldwin fired 'prop gun' that killed 'Rust' cinematographer, officials say The Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office responds to the scene of a fatal accidental shooting at a Bonanza Creek Ranch movie set near Santa Fe, N.M., on Thursday, Oct. 21, 2021. Authorities say a cinematographer has been killed and a director injured Thursday after they were shot by a prop firearm on the "Rust" movie set. (Luis Sanchez-Saturno//Santa Fe New Mexican via AP)

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