The Santa Fe Sheriff’s Office obtained a warrant on Thursday to search Alec Baldwin’s cell phone as part of their ongoing investigation into the fatal shooting on the set of the Western film “Rust” in New Mexico.

Det. Alexandria Hancock stated in an affidavit attached to the warrant that investigators are looking for evidence that will aid in the completion of a full investigation. Hancock stated that she had asked Baldwin and his attorney to turn over the phone voluntarily, and she was told to obtain a warrant.

Investigators are piecing together the events leading up to the Oct. 21 shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.
Hancock stated in the affidavit that she conducted a brief search of Hutchins’ phone and discovered conversations about the production dating back to July 14.

The affidavit includes previously undisclosed details of Baldwin’s initial interview with Sheriff’s detectives. Baldwin stated in the interview that he had exchanged emails with Hannah Gutierrez Reed, the production’s armorer, about the type of gun to use. She had shown him several options, and he had chosen the Colt.45 he would use in the film.

“He said he wanted a bigger gun, and she showed him different styles of knives for the production,” according to the affidavit. “Alec was shown a Colt with a brown handle, and a cherry handle, and he ultimately chose the one with the brown handle.”

Baldwin stated in an interview with ABC’s George Stephanopoulos two weeks ago that he was told “it’s highly unlikely that I would be charged with anything criminally.”

The next day, local prosecutor Mary Carmack-Altwies issued a statement saying that no charges had been ruled out. Gutierrez Reed and Dave Halls, the first assistant director, voluntarily turned over their phones, according to the Wall Street Journal on December 10. Baldwin’s attorney told the newspaper that while he was willing to turn over his phone, he needed to “protect his privacy on unrelated matters.”

The warrant requests “all information and data from the cellular phone in relation to the production of ‘Rust,’ and any member working on the production.” Text messages, photos, videos, call history, contacts, and GPS data are examples of such data.