Movie star Alec Baldwin has fired a prop gun on a movie set in New Mexico, killing cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and wounding director Joel Souza, authorities said.
Key points:
- Rust’s director of photography, Halyna Hutchins died after being airlifted to hospital and director Joel Souza is being treated at a medical centre for his injuries
- The Santa Fe New Mexican reported Baldwin was seen Thursday outside the sheriff’s office in tears
- Detectives are investigating how and what type of projectile was discharged on set
The incident occurred on the set of the independent feature film, Rust, the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s office said in a statement.
“The sheriff’s office confirms that two individuals were shot on the set of Rust,” police said in the statement.
“Halyna Hutchins, 42, director of photography, and Joel Souza, 48, director, were shot when a prop firearm was discharged by Alec Baldwin, 68, producer, and actor.”
Hutchins died after being airlifted to hospital and Souza is being treated at a medical centre for injuries sustained in the incident.
A spokesperson for Baldwin said there was an accident on the set involving the misfire of a prop gun with blanks.
The Santa Fe New Mexican reported that Baldwin was seen on Thursday outside the sheriff’s office in tears.
Deputies responded about 2:00pm (local time) to the movie set at the Bonanza Creek Ranch after 911 calls came in of a person being shot on set, sheriff’s spokesman Juan Rios said.
He said detectives were investigating how and what type of projectile was discharged.
“This investigation remains open and active,” Mr Rios said in a statement.
“No charges have been filed in regard to this incident. Witnesses continue to be interviewed by detectives.”
Filming for Rust was set to continue into early November, according to a news release from the New Mexico Film Office.
“The details are unclear at this moment, but we are working to learn more, and we support a full investigation into this tragic event,” International Cinematographers Guild president John Lindley and executive director Rebecca Rhine said in a statement.
Hutchins, 42, was director of photography on the 2020 action film Archenemy, starring Joe Manganiello.
A 2015 graduate of the American Film Institute, she was named a “rising star” by American Cinematographer in 2019.
“I’m so sad about losing Halyna. And so infuriated that this could happen on a set,” said Archenemy director Adam Egypt Mortimer on Twitter.
“She was a brilliant talent who was absolutely committed to art and to film.”
Reuters