Video of Alec Baldwin rehearsing with gun on 'Rust' set released by New Mexico sheriff

The footage shows the actor practising with what appears to be the firearm that went off in his hand

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A New Mexico county sheriff on Monday released a video of actor Alec Baldwin rehearsing with an old-west style revolver on the set of the filmRustbefore the gun went off in his hand, killing cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.

Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza also made public crime scene photos and videotaped interviews with cast members of Rust, including Baldwin, but said a formal decision on criminal charges would depend on further forensic examination.

"Various components of the investigation remain outstanding, including FBI firearm and ballistic forensics along with DNA and latent fingerprint analysis, [coroner's] findings and the analysis of Mr Alec Baldwin's phone data extracted by Suffolk County Sheriff's investigators," Mendoza said.

The state of New Mexico last week fined Rust Movie Productions the maximum amount possible, $137,000, for what it called "wilful" safety lapses leading to the death of Hutchins.

The 42-year-old was killed during filming in October when the revolver Baldwin was holding fired a live round that struck her in the chest and lodged in the shoulder of director Joel Souza, who survived the gunshot wound.

Baldwin has denied responsibility for Hutchins' death and said live rounds should never have been allowed on to the set of the film at Bonanza Creek Ranch in New Mexico.

The footage released on Monday, with no accompanying sound, shows Baldwin in costume as an old west gunslinger practicing with what appears to be the gun that went off in his hand, killing Hutchins.

Separate video shows the actor being questioned by officers at the scene of the shooting as well as in a police station.

Baldwin, a producer on the film, has been named in several lawsuits filed in connection with Hutchins's death, including one by her husband, Matthew.

Updated: April 26, 2022, 5:32 AM