Rust producers fined maximum amount for safety lapses that led to gun death

State officials deliver highest level of rebuke and say production demonstrated plain indifference' to employee protection

The state of New Mexico on Wednesday issued its maximum citation against the producers of the western movie Rust for safety lapses before what the authorities called the avoidable" shooting death of the cinematographer Halyna Hutchins during filming last autumn.

An investigation into Hutchins' death found the company, Rust Movie Productions, knew firearm safety procedures were not being followed on set and demonstrated plain indifference" to employee safety, the New Mexico environment department said in a statement.