Rust Shooting

Reconstructing Rust: Hawks Consulting’s Role

Sypnosis

In October 2021, on the set of the Western film Rust at Bonanza Creek Ranch in New Mexico, cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was tragically killed and director Joel Souza wounded when a revolver discharged live ammunition during a rehearsal. Actor Alec Baldwin was handling the firearm at the time.

The incident sparked intense legal scrutiny, including a high-profile manslaughter trial for the film’s armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed. Prosecutors alleged that a combination of errors, including firearm handling and safety breakdowns, led to the fatal discharge.

Our Role

Hawks Consulting LLC was engaged to support investigative efforts in this complex case. Retained by the prosecution, Jason Hawks served as a key witness, bringing specialized expertise in digital data analysis. He conducted a detailed forensic review of cellphone data extracted from the defendant’s device. His analysis helped uncover and present critical communications — including text messages from the night before the incident — that were entered into evidence during the trial.

Technology Involved

Pattern of Life Analysis

Cellphone Data Extraction and Parsing

Chronological Reconstruction

Key Findings

Text messages from the evening before the incident showed the armorer discussing smoking “to get high,” a detail introduced to the jury as part of the prosecution’s broader case strategy.

Hawks Consulting testimony established that the extracted digital data reflected authentic communications, important for maintaining evidentiary credibility in court.

By cross-referencing timestamps and activity patterns, Hawks Consulting helped clarify when key messages were sent relative to the fatal incident.

Outcome

As a direct result of the evidentiary record compiled in the Rust investigation, including the digital communications timeline that Hawks Consulting helped establish, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in March 2024 for her role in the fatal on-set shooting that killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins..