The director of photography died after being wounded by a projectile fired by Hollywood actor Alec Baldwin on the set of the film Rust in New Mexico, the Santa Fe sheriff’s office confirmed late Thursday.
Joel Souza, the film’s director, was also hurt and is being hospitalized in a Santa Fe hospital. Halyna Hutchins, the 42-year-old director of photography, died on the set of Bonanza Creek Ranch while being flown to a hospital.
A spokeswoman for Baldwin informed The Associated Press that a prop guy with blanks misfired on the set, causing an accident.
“A source close to the investigation said Baldwin, 63, was questioned by investigators late Thursday and was seen by a New Mexican reporter and photographer in tears,” the Santa Fe New Mexican reported.
“According to investigators, it appears that the scene being filmed involved the use of a prop firearm when it was discharged,” a sheriff’s spokesman said. “Detectives are investigating how and what type of projectile was discharged.” No charges have been filed.
Accidents with firearms do kill people on movie sets every once in a while, AP notes.
Infamously, Brandon Lee, the 28-year-old son of Bruce Lee, died on set in 1993 after being hit with a .44 caliber slug while filming a death scene in the movie The Crow.
The gun was supposed to have fired a blank. Actor Jon-Erik Hexum similarly died in 1984 while filming the TV series Cover Up. He was pretending to play Russian roulette with a gun that was supposed to be loaded with blanks.
Both deaths were ruled accidents.
