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Alec Baldwin has released a statement after misfiring a prop firearm and fatally shooting cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of Rust. Director Joel Souza was also wounded.
Speaking to photographers for TMZ in Vermont, the actor said the incident was a “one in a trillion episode” and added that accidents of this nature very rarely happen.
“She was my friend. The day I arrived in Santa Fe and started shooting I took her to dinner with Joel.”
He said the police had ordered him not to discuss the ongoing investigation and that he was interested in limiting the use of firearms on film sets in the future.
“An ongoing effort to limit the use of firearms on film sets is something I’m extremely interested in,
He previously issued the following statement:
“My heart is broken for her husband, their son, and all who knew and loved Halyna,” he wrote. “There are no words to convey my shock and sadness regarding the tragic accident that took the life of Halyna Hutchins, a wife, mother and deeply admired colleague of ours.”
“I’m fully co-operating with the police investigation to address how this tragedy occurred,” Baldwin added.
It was reported earlier that the prop gun contained a “live single round” and was classed as an “accidental weapons discharge.” According to a search warrant filed at court after the incident, the gun was handed to Baldwin by a director who told him it was safe and did not know it contained live ammunition, the BBC reported.
The incident happened at the filming location, Bonanza Creek ranch outside of Santa Fe, New Mexico, on Thursday.
Deputies from Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Department attended the scene after the incident took place at around 2 pm local time. No charges have been filed as police enquiries continue.
Hutchins, 42, was shot in the chest and airlifted to the University of New Mexico Hospital where she later died.
Souza, 48, was taken to Christus St. Vincent Regional Medical Center by ambulance but has since been discharged, according to actress Frances Fisher.
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International Cinematographers Guild Local 600 president John Lindley and executive director Rebecca Rhine paid tribute to Hutchins in a statement to Variety, saying: “The details are unclear at this moment, but we are working to learn more, and we support a full investigation into this tragic event. This is a terrible loss, and we mourn the passing of a member of our Guild’s family.”
A spokesperson for the film’s production company, Rust Movies Productions LLC, said: “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.”
The company said they have halted production on the film for “an undetermined period of time” and are fully cooperating with the Santa Fe Police Department’s investigation. They also said they would “be providing counselling services to everyone connected to the film as we work to process this awful event.”
Who is Halyna Hutchins?
Ukraine-born Hutchins was raised on a Soviet military base in the Arctic Circle and studied international journalism at Kyiv National University.
The cinematographer previously worked as an investigative journalist for British documentaries in Europe.
After moving to Los Angeles Hutchins graduated from the American Film Institute (AFI) Conservatory in 2015.
Hutchins was selected as one of American Cinematographers’ Rising Stars of 2019 and was one of the eight female cinematographers chosen to participate in the 21st Century Fox DP Lab in 2018.
Hutchins previously worked alongside director Mike Nell and actors Brian Geraghty and Sharon Leal on Blindfire, an award-winning 2020 police drama. She also recently worked on the superhero thriller Archenemy, which received a nomination for the Best Motion Picture award at Sitges International Film Festival.
She also worked on a number of other feature films, including The Mad Hatter and Darlin’, as well as short films Sunday’s Child and The Providers.
She shared images from the set with her 12,000 Instagram followers two days ago, where the cast can be seen dressed up in their costumes.
Hutchins also shared a video with the caption: “One of the perks of shooting a Western is you get to ride horses on your day off” along with a smiling emoji.
Tributes have poured in on social media
Archenemy director Adam Egypt Mortimer said Hutchins was “a brilliant talent who was absolutely committed to art and to film.”
Archenemy star Joe Manganiello posted a tribute to Instagram, calling Hutchins “an absolutely incredible talent and a great person.”
James Gunn, director of The Suicide Squad and Guardians of the Galaxy, said his heart goes out to all those affected by the tragedy, especially Hutchins’ family.
The family of the late actor Brandon Lee have also spoken out. Lee, 28, was killed in 1993 after being shot by a prop gun on the set of The Crow. Lee was the son of famous martial artist Bruce Lee.
Lee’s sister, Shannon, runs a Twitter account dedicated to her brother.
Tweeting today, she wrote: “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.”
For live updates on this story as it unfolds, follow The Independent’s live blog.