Joel Souza's Rust had all the makings of a great Western, especially with a cast that included Alec Baldwin, Travis Fimmel, Frances Fisher, and Jensen Ackles. However, work on the movie was halted following the tragic death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.
Baldwin was holding the weapon that gunned Hutchins down, though he's repeatedly said he was led to believe it was a "cold gun" without ammunition. The actor has also stated that he didn't pull the trigger, but a report from the FBI has disputed that.
According to ABC News, it's alleged in the Bureau's forensic report that, "Accidental discharge testing determined that the firearm used in the shooting - a .45 Colt (.45 Long Colt) caliber F.lli Pietta single-action revolver - could not have fired without the trigger being pulled."
There has been no comment from Baldwin or weapons handler Hannah Gutierrez Reed, but this forensic report looks set to be an incredibly important part of the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office's homicide investigation. While this is only one part of a much bigger picture, there's a very good chance the actor could be facing manslaughter charges.
However, that may not be likely to happen after the New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator classified Hutchins' death as an accident (primarily because it goes without saying that neither Baldwin nor Reed intended to harm the cinematographer and that this was a terrible tragedy).
It's worth noting, though, that the local District Attorney will be the one who decides whether to press charges, and detectives are currently awaiting phone records from Baldwin.
This will be a story worth keeping an eye on, but it's important to remember that someone lost their life here. Ultimately, anyone who played a role in that (whether it be inadvertently or due to negligence) will have to answer, though it's unlikely to make Hutchins' family feel much better after so tragically losing their loved one.
Stay tuned for updates.