A woman died on the set of Alec Baldwin’s upcoming film after the actor reportedly fired a prop gun on the set up his upcoming film. The film’s director was also injured.
As the Santa Fe New Mexican reports, 42-year-old Halyna Hutchins, the director of photography for the upcoming film “Rust,” died after Baldwin reportedly discharged a prop gun while the film was shooting in New Mexico. The film’s director, 48-year-old Joel Souza, was also injured and received emergency medical care at Christus St. Vincent Regional Medical Center. Hutchins died at the University of New Mexico Hospital in Albuquerque following what appears to be an accident.
Authorities have released limited details about the tragedy, and the incident remains under investigation. According to a sheriff’s office news release, authorities are still working to determine “what type of projectile was discharged.”
The newspaper obtained photos of Baldwin, appearing distraught, outside the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office on Thursday. A sheriff’s spokesperson reportedly said that Baldwin offered a statement to investigators. Baldwin is a lead actor in the film and its producer, and he also shares a writing credit, according tot the Santa Fe New Mexican.
Hutchins was most recently the director of photography on the 2020 film “Archenemy,” the Associated Press reports. In 2019, she was reportedly named a “rising star” by American Cinematographer magazine.
Fran Drescher, president of the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, issued a joint statement with SGA’s National Executive Director Duncan Crabtree-Ireland.
“We are devastated by this tragic news. Our hearts go out to the family of Director of Photography Halyna Hutchins who has passed away and to Director Joel Souza who is injured and hospitalized,” the statement reads.
“This is still an active investigation and we do not yet have all the facts. We will continue to work with production, the other unions, and the authorities to investigate this incident and to understand how to prevent such a thing from happening again.”
This is a developing story. CrimeOnline will provide further updates when more information is available.
[Feature image: AP Photo/John Minchillo, File]
