ALEC Baldwin repeatedly asked “why was I handed a hot gun?” after he accidentally shot & killed his film’s cinematographer and seriously injured the director with a prop gun.
Cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, 42, died from her injuries while director Joel Souza, 48, was also hurt but has since been released from the hospital.
According to ShowBiz 411, the actor was distraught following the tragic accident, questioning why the gun was loaded with real ammunition.
Photos captured Alec sobbing outside of a local police station in Sante Fe, New Mexico where the incident occured.
The 63-year-old was at the station being interviewed by cops according to local media reports.
One picture shows him chatting on the phone while another snapped him close to the curb with his hands on his knees.
The accident happened at around 1:50pm local time on Thursday.
It comes as:
- Alec Baldwin accidentally shoots dead cinematographer as director in critical condition.
- Baldwin’s tweet about ‘wrongfully killing someone’ resurfaces.
- What happened on the set of Alec Baldwin’s movie Rust?
- Baldwin deletes bloodied pic of himself wearing western attire.
- Who was Halyna Hutchins and what was her role on set?
- Hutchins wrote about the joys of working on the movie set.
In a statement first given to The Celeb Report, Santa Fe County Sheriff Juan Rios revealed: “The sheriff’s office confirms that two individuals were shot on the set of Rust.
“Halyna Hutchins, 42, director of photography and Joel Souza, 48, director, were shot when a prop firearm was discharged by Alec Baldwin, 63, producer, and actor.”
The officer also confirmed that no charges have been filed but the investigation remains ongoing as witnesses are being quizzed.
TRAGIC ACCIDENT
Alec was filming a scene on the set of his new Western movie, Rust, that required him to fire a gun that was supposed to be loaded with blanks.
However, tragedy struck when the gun discharged either shrapnel or a bullet, which hit two people on set including the director of photography, Halyna Hutchins.
Shortly after the incident took place, Halyna was airlifted to a hospital where she died from her injuries.
Joel Souza, who was also shot, was taken to hospital.
He was treated and released later that evening.
MISFIRE
The shooting at Bonanza Creek Ranch just outside of Santa Fe, New Mexico happened in the middle of a scene that was either being rehearsed or filmed – with the incident potentially being caught on camera, officials confirmed.
The TV and film star was “unaware” about the type of ammunition in the gun, according to Deadline.
Filming of the western movie has since been paused.
A rep said: “Production has been halted for the time being on Rust. The safety of our cast and crew remains our top priority.”
PROBE CONTINUES
Santa Fe cops said: “According to investigators, it appears the scene being filmed involved the use of a prop firearm when it was discharged. Detectives are investigating how and what type of projectile was discharged.
“The incident remains an active investigation. As more information becomes available, updates will be provided.”
Baldwin’s spokesperson told PEOPLE: “There was an accident today on the New Mexico set of Rust involving the misfire of a prop gun with blanks.”
Responding to the news, the Cinematographers Guild said: “We received the devastating news this evening, that one of our members, Halyna Hutchins, the Director of Photography on a production called ‘Rust’ in New Mexico died from injuries sustained on the set.”
Actor Joe Manganiello tweeted: “I’m in shock. I was so lucky to have had Halyna Hutchins as my DP on Archenemy. An incredible talent and a great person.”
‘AN INCREDIBLE TALENT’
A statement posted on Brandon Lee’s Twitter page said: “Our hearts go out to the family of Halyna Hutchins and to Joel Souza and all involved in the incident in ‘Rust’. No one should ever be killed by a gun on a film set.”
Lee, 28, the son of martial arts superstar Bruce Lee, was killed in 1993 after he was shot dead on the set of the film The Crow.
Days before Halyna was shot dead, she shared images of riding a horse and wrote about how she loved working on the film set.
She said: “One of the perks of shooting a western is you get to ride horses on your day off.”
In the selfie video, she smiles while her horse trots down a path behind some fellow riders and the wind blows her hair beneath a black cowboy hat.
Just hours before the accident, Alec posed in character on the set in an Instagram post.
He was wearing dirty cowboy boots, a vest, and a bandana while leaning on his trailer.
A tweet from 2017 where Baldwin criticized a southern California cop’s fatal shooting has resurfaced following the accident in New Mexico.
The outspoken film producer and writer said at the time: “I wonder how it must feel to wrongfully kill someone.”
Baldwin was commentating on a Huntington Beach police officer struggling with a young man in front of a 7-Eleven store before drawing his gun and firing.
Alec will star in the film alongside actors Travis Fimmel, Brady Noon, Frances Fisher, and Jensen Ackles.
