Sabotage On ‘Rust’ Set May Explain Fatal Shooting: Attorneys

SANTA FE, NM — The “Today” show is reporting attorneys who represent the armorer in charge of weapons on the “Rust” set are investigating whether a saboteur put a live bullet in the box of dummy rounds used in a prop gun fired by Alec Baldwin, resulting in a cinematographer’s death.

Investigators are focusing on armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, 24, but her attorneys said in an exclusive interview with NBC’s “Today” show’s Savannah Guthrie that it’s just as likely a disgruntled crew member planted the bullet.

“I believe that somebody who would do that would want to sabotage the set, want to prove a point, want to say that they’re disgruntled, they’re unhappy,” attorney Jason Bowles said. “And we know that people had walked off the set the day before.”

Cinemaphotographer Halyna Hutchins, 42, was killed on the set of “Rust,” a Western movie being filmed in the desert on the southern outskirts of Santa Fe, New Mexico, on Oct. 21. A director was injured.

» Get the complete story on today.com