Alec Baldwin has fatally shot a crew member with a prop firearm on the set of “Rust.”
Cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, 42, was killed. The director of the western film, Joel Souza, 48, was also injured.
Baldwin apparently fired a prop firearm that contained live ammunition and not blanks, though the details of how this happened are unclear.
In a tragic twist of fate, the plot of “Rust” centers on a 13-year-old boy who goes on the run with his estranged grandfather after the accidental killing of a local rancher, according to IMDb.
The shooting occurred around around 1:50 p.m. on the set of “Rust” in New Mexico, said Juan Rios, a spokesman for the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office. Ms. Hutchins was flown to the University of New Mexico Hospital in Albuquerque, where she later died, Mr. Rios said. Mr. Souza was taken to Christus St. Vincent Regional Medical Center in Santa Fe. Mr. Souza’s condition was not immediately available.
The movie’s production company issues the following statement…
“The entire cast and crew has been absolutely devastated by today’s tragedy, and we send our deepest condolences to Halyna’s family and loved ones. We have halted production on the film for an undetermined period of time and are fully cooperating with the Santa Fe Police Department’s investigation. We will be providing counseling services to everyone connected to the film as we work to process this awful event.”
This isn’t the first high profile accidental shooting on the set of a movie. In 1993, Brandon Lee, son of Bruce Lee, was killed on the set of The Crow. His official Twitter account acknowledged the death.
Our hearts go out to the family of Halyna Hutchins and to Joel Souza and all involved in the incident on “Rust”. No one should ever be killed by a gun on a film set. Period. 💔
— Brandon Bruce Lee (@brandonblee) October 22, 2021
Jon-Erik Hexum, star of the TV series Voyagers!, accidentally shot himself with a prop firearm in 1984.
Baldwin is best known for roles including Adam Maitland in Beetlejuice, the voice of Boss Baby and as Jack Donaghy on the NBC sitcom 30 Rock.
[Source: The New York Times]
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