FBI firearms expert takes stand in trial for 'Rust' armorer

Feb. 26—An FBI firearms expert told jurors he believes the revolver that discharged a live round on the set of the ill-fated Rust production would not have fired under normal conditions unless the person handling it had manually cocked it and pulled the trigger.

Bryce Ziegler took the stand Monday morning in the trial for Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, an armorer accused of bringing live bullets on the film set, one of which killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and wounded director Joel Souza in the shoulder.

Zieglersaid he had examined the revolver, which actor and producer Alec Baldwin was holding during a rehearsal at a movie ranch near Santa Fe when it fired the fatal shot. Baldwin has said he didn't pull the trigger.

However, Ziegler testified the gun had safety features — which he described as quarter-cock and half-cock notches — designed to keep the hammer from falling if the shooter's thumb slipped off it accidentally.

He noted the gun's instruction manual warned an accidental misfire might be possible if the gun was dropped while fully loaded because the hammer would be resting on the primer of a bullet. The manual recommended leaving one chamber blank to guard against that.

Ziegler said he didn't conduct a drop test on the gun, but was twice able to get it to fire without the trigger being pulled while conducting "accidental discharge" testing. He used a mallet to strike the weapon in various places, he said.

He suspected the gun fired only because he had damaged it during the testing, he testified.

Under cross examination Ziegler admitted he only assumed the internal damage he noted inside the weapon had been caused by the testing process because he disassembled it — and discovered the damage — after the test.

Ziegler also examined numerous types of ammunition tied to the case, including rounds found on the set; rounds taken from Albuquerque-based PDQ Arm & Prop, which had supplied some ammunition for the production; and other rounds PDQ owner Seth Kenney provided to investigators.

It wasn't immediately clear how Ziegler's testimony about the firearm testing applied to Gutierrez-Reed's case.

Such testimony might be more relevant if and when the case against Baldwin goes to trial.

Baldwin and Gutierrez-Reed are both charged with involuntary manslaughter in connection with Hutchins' death. The fourth- degree felony carries a maximum sentence of 18 months of incarceration.

Gutierrez-Reed is also charged with tampering with evidence in connection with an allegation she handed a baggie of cocaine to another crew member after being interviewed by police following the shooting.

She could face three years in prison if she is convicted of both charges.

Baldwin has entered a plea of not guilty in his case. A judge issued a scheduling order Monday setting his trial for early July.

In a puzzling twist in Gutierrez-Reed's case, attorney Monnica Barreras filed a notice she will be representing the defendant, and co-counsel Todd Bullion, who has been working on the case for more than a year, asked to be allowed to withdraw. The issue was not discussed in open court Monday.

According to a court order filed during the lunch break, presiding Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer has denied Bullion's request to withdraw and required him to remain sitting at the defense table.

"However, to avoid potential disruptions at trial, Mr. Bullion shall refrain from directly communicating with Defendant Gutierrez as requested by Defendant," the order states.

"Lead attorney Mr. Jason Bowles shall direct and coordinate co-counsel Mr. Bullion's and co-counsel Ms. Barreras's respective participation in the trial, if any," it continues.

This is a developing story. Check back for more details.