Possible gun modifications in fatal 'Rust' shooting case lead to new forensic testing and motion to dismiss charges.

Prosecutors in New Mexico are investigating whether the gun Alec Baldwin was handling when it went off and killed “Rust” cinematographer Halyna Hutchins might have been intentionally modified. The modification appears to be related to the notches on the internal portion of the hammer for full cock, half cock and quarter cock positions. The development comes a month after prosecutors dropped the criminal case against Baldwin in Hutchins’s October 2021 death. If the gun is found to have been modified, it could bolster Baldwin’s contention that he never pulled the trigger when it discharged.