Alec Baldwin: 500 rounds of ammunition found on film set after fatal shooting

The investigation into the Rust film set shooting could yet lead to criminal charges, ITV News Correspondent Robert Moore reports

Around 500 rounds of ammunition - some of them live - have been found while searching the Rust film set where a cinematographer was fatally shot last week.

New Mexico authorities have been investigating the death of 42-year-old cinematographer Halyna Hutchins who was hit after Alec Baldwin fired a gun on set.

Director Joel Souza was also wounded.

Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza said it’s too early to comment on whether any charges will be filed, he then added 500 rounds of ammunition have been found.

These are a mix of blanks, dummy rounds and live rounds. The sheriff would not comment on how the rounds got on set.

Candles are placed next to a photograph of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. Credit: Andres Leighton/AP
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Investigators have also recovered a "lead projectile" believed to have been fired from the gun handed to Mr Baldwin.

Testing is being done to determine whether the bullet recovered from director Joel Souza’s shoulder was fired from the gun used by Baldwin.

Investigators said they will also be following up on reports that there were other incidents involving misfires with guns used on the set.

District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies said investigators can’t say whether it was negligence or by whom at this point.

Both the sheriff and district attorney said they will not rush to judgment and that more investigation is needed.

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However, Sheriff Mendoza added there had been "some complacency" on the set.

He said: "Obviously I think the industry has had a record recently of being safe.

"I think there was some complacency on this set, and I think there are some safety issues that need to be addressed by the industry and possibly by the state of New Mexico."

Mr Souza, who was standing behind Hutchins, told investigators there should never be live rounds present near the scene.

“We suspect that there were other live rounds, but that’s up to the testing," Sheriff Mendoza said.

"But right now, we’re going to determine how those got there, why they were there because they shouldn’t have been."