The director of photography on a New Mexico film set was shot in the chest Thursday when an assistant director handed a live weapon to actor Alec Baldwin and told the crew the gun was “cold,” meaning it did not contain live rounds.
According to a search warrant, the cast and crew were rehearsing for the movie “Rust,” which Baldwin is producing and co-writing, at the time of the shooting, KOAT reported.
The assistant director picked up one of three guns on a cart on the set and handed it to Baldwin, who fired the weapon, striking Halyna Hutchinson in the chest and director Joel Souza, who was standing behind Hutchinson, in the shoulder.
Both Hutchinson and Souza were taken to hospitals; Hutchinson died, and Souza was released after treatment.
A script supervisor called 911, according to recordings of the call obtained by KOAT. She asks for help and tells the dispatcher the director and a camerawoman were struck, then says she doesn’t know if the gun was loaded with real bullets when the dispatcher asks. The script supervisor says she ran out of the building where the shooting happened when she heard the gunshot and repeatedly says she doesn’t know the answers to the dispatchers questions.
A male voice takes over from her and answers, telling the dispatcher they have a medic on set who is treating the two victims.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, Baldwin released a statement about the shooting, saying there were “no words to convey my shock and sadness.” Baldwin also gave a statement to police.
It’s not known if charges will be filed in the incident.
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[Featured image: Security stands at the entrance to a film set where police say actor Alec Baldwin fired a prop gun, killing a cinematographer, is seen outside Santa Fe, New Mexico, Friday, Oct. 22, 2021. The Bonanza Creek Ranch film set has permanent structures for background used in Westerns, including “Rust,” the film Baldwin was working on when the prop gun discharged. (AP Photo/Cedar Attanasio)]
