Actor Alec Bladwin fired a prop gun Thursday that killed one crew member and injured another on the set of the movie “Rust” in New Mexico, the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office said.
The film’s director of photography, Halyna Hutchins, 42, was killed, and director Joel Souza, 48, was injured when Baldwin, 63, discharged a firearm he didn’t know was loaded.
The incident took place at a ranch in New Mexico on Thursday.
Santa Fe County sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to the Bonanza Creek Ranch movie set after a shooting was reported, officials said.
Hutchins was rushed via helicopter to the University of New Mexico Hospital, where she was pronounced dead, authorities said.
Souza was hospitalized for his injuries and later released.
Baldwin spoke out about the on-set shooting in a tweet.
Baldwin, who portrayed an outlaw, needed a gun for his role.
The affidavit stated that the assistant director picked up one of the three guns that the film’s armorer had set up outside on a gray cart. Before handing it to Baldwin, the A.D. yelled,” Cold Gun!” — which was supposed to indicate that the gun did not have any live rounds in it.
The A.D. “did not know live rounds were in the prop-gun” when he gave it to Mr. Baldwin, according to the affidavit.
The Post reported that the prop master who handled the guns on set was hired to replace someone else amid chaos on the set, according to a source involved with the movie.
An investigation is still ongoing but no charges have been filed in connection to the incident at this time.
Hutchins husband also spoke out on the incident.
“I don’t think there are words to communicate the situation,” Matthew Hutchins, 38, told Insider by phone.
He added, “I am not going to be able to comment about the facts or the process of what we’re going through right now, but I appreciate that everyone has been very sympathetic.”
He then said, “I think that we will need a little bit of time before we can really encapsulate her life in a way that is easy to communicate.”
The couple has been married for 16 years and share a son together.
Sending heartfelt condolences to the Hutchins family and wishing a speedy recovery for Souza. Sending love to Baldwin and everyone on set as they deal with the aftermath of this horrible tragedy.
Rest in peace, Halya Hutchins.
