Alec Baldwin accidentally kills a woman and wounds a man by firing a prop gun on the set of "Rust"
On the set of the film "Rust" in New Mexico, the director of photography was killed and the film director injured after actor Alec Baldwin fired a prop firearm Thursday, according to a law enforcement statement. provided to CNN.
Director of Photography Halyna Hutchins, 42, was taken to the hospital by helicopter and was pronounced dead by medical staff at the University of New Mexico Hospital, according to the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office.
The film's director, Joel Souza, 48, was taken to Christus St. Vincent Regional Medical Center by ambulance for care. No details were released about his condition.
"There are no words to convey my shock and sadness over the tragic accident that took the life of Halyna Hutchins, our deeply admired wife, mother and colleague," Baldwin tweeted on Friday. "I am fully cooperating with the police investigation to address how this tragedy occurred and I am in contact with her husband, offering my support to him and his family. My heart is broken for her husband, her son and everyone who knew and loved Halyna. ".
"According to investigators, it appears that the scene being filmed involved the use of a backup firearm when it was fired," said a statement from authorities. "Detectives are investigating how and what type of shell was discharged."
The incident occurred this Thursday at approximately 1:50 p.m. local time, investigators said.
"Rust" is a western film set in the 1880s starring Alec Baldwin, Travis Fimmel, and Jensen Ackles.
Email requests for comment sent to the film's production company and a representative for Alec Baldwin were not immediately returned.
The Sheriff's Office said the investigation "remains open and active" and no charges have been filed.
They issue a search warrant on the property where the movie is being filmed
Authorities issued a search warrant for the property where the movie "Rust" was being filmed and will carefully review it over the weekend, Santa Fe County Sheriff's spokesman Juan Ríos told CNN.
Ríos said that due to the sensitive nature of this incident, no press conferences or statements are expected this weekend.
In a 911 call from the set of the movie "Rust", a member of the crew said: "We need help."
A CNN affiliate obtained the 911 call from the set of the movie "Rust."
In the call obtained by CNN affiliate KOAT, a crew member explains to the operator that help is needed for two people who were "accidentally" shot on the set of Bonanza Creek Ranch.
"We need help. They have shot a director and a camerawoman, ”a woman tells the operator.
The woman also explains what happened before the firearm was fired. "She was sitting, we rehearsed and she shot herself, and I ran, we all ran," the woman told the emergency operator.
The incident occurred around 1:50 p.m. local time Thursday, investigators said. The Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office told CNN that the investigation "remains open and active" and no charges have been filed. "
"Detectives are investigating how and what type of projectile was discharged," a police statement said.
"Rust" Production Team Members Resigned Before Deadly Accident
Part of the "Rust" production team resigned before the accident in which cinematographer Halyna Hutchins died, the Los Angeles Times reported. Several people had filed complaints about certain conditions during the filming of the film. What was it that put them on alert?
Has happened before
It is not the first time that people have been killed with what were supposed to be harmless weapons on a film set.
While filming the movie "The Raven" in 1993, actor Brandon Lee, Bruce Lee's son, was killed when he was hit by a bullet from a gun that was supposed to have only salvos, but had a bullet lodged in the barrel.
Salvage bullets can be deadly if fired at very close range. In 1984, actor John-Eric Hexum was playing with a gun on the set of "Cover Up: Golden Opportunity" and died after putting the gun to his head and pulling the trigger.
"They all contain a charge, a gunpowder that creates the noise and the explosive, the visual explosion, and it's usually some kind of wire or something that explodes from the gun when fired," said Daniel Oates, former Miami Beach Police Chief. . and Aurora, Colorado.
"These weapons can be very, very dangerous," Oates said on CNN's "New Day" show on Friday.
