New details have emerged about the tragic accident on the set of Rust.
On Thursday, October 21, cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was shot and killed after actor Alec Baldwinfired a prop gun that was reportedly loaded with a live bullet.
According to Variety, IATSE Local 44 claimed in an email to its members that there was a “live single round” in the prop gun used by Baldwin — which wounded director Joel Souza and left Hutchins dead.
“A live single round was accidentally fired on set by the principal actor, hitting both the Director of Photography, Local 600 member Halyna Hutchins, and Director Joel Souz,” the union revealed. “Both were rushed to the hospital. Unfortunately, we lost Sister Hutchins who passed from the wound.”
A witness on the New Mexico set shared that the It’s Complicated actor repeated the question, “Why was I handed a hot gun?” multiple times after the incident happened.
“In all my years, I’ve never been handed a hot gun,” he reportedly said on the scene, per The New York Post
The witness also recalled that Baldwin was in a state of shock after firing the prop gun, and “had no idea how badly they were hurt or Halyna was dead.”
After the accident happened, the film production for the upcoming Western flick was halted and sent into lockdown.
The Director of Photography, 42, was airlifted to the University of New Mexico Hospital in Albuquerque where she passed away from the gunshot wound, while Souza was later released from the hospital following his injuries.
The Motherless Brooklyn actor was later seen outside of the police station, where he appeared to be in tears over the ordeal.
“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,” Rust Movie Productions LLC said in a statement. “We have halted production on the film for an undetermined period of time and are fully cooperating with the Santa Fe Police Department’s investigation.”
As OK! previously reported, Baldwin willingly headed to the sheriff’s office in Santa Fe to give a statement about what happened.
“Mr. Baldwin was questioned by investigators and released,” an official from the sheriff’s department said, explaining that “No arrests or charges have been filed.”
