Actor Alec Baldwin on Thursday killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and wounded director Joel Souza in an apparent gun incident on the set of “Rust.”
A person who allegedly witnessed the fatal incident has since come forward to detail what happened. According to the witness, it was one bullet, potentially real ammunition, that discharged from the gun during the accident.
“[T]he bullet went straight through the body of DP Halyna Hutchins and into the clavicle of the film’s director Joel Souza,” said a report from Showbiz411. “Very quickly the set was locked down. Ambulance and helicopters arrived. Hutchins and Souza were sent straight to the hospital. Hutchins died en route in a helicopter.”
Baldwin was apparently on the ground, “in shock but composed.”
The witness said the 63-year-old actor repeatedly asked why he was given a “hot gun.” As noted by the outlet, a “hot gun” is a gun with real ammunition.
“In all my years, I’ve never been handed a hot gun,” Baldwin reportedly said.
Before knowing the fate of the victims, the actor was taken to the hospital. “He had no idea how badly they were hurt or Halyna was dead,” the witness said.
“They had safety meetings every day but it was a Tier I movie, so they probably didn’t have more than 1 prop person,” the witness added. “Tier 1” means the film has a budget for under $6 million.
“Whatever happened on the set, Alec Baldwin certainly didn’t intend for this outcome,” the report said, adding that “Rust” is likely done as a film, according to sources.
“Sources say the production has been halted but as with the movie about Gregg Allman’s life, in which a crew member was killed because of negligence, lawsuits will now override any chance to that movie being finished.”
A union has come forward to claim that the gun Baldwin fired contained a “live round,” according to the New York Post:
The prop gun Alec Baldwin used in the accidental shooting that killed a cinematographer on his upcoming movie “Rust” and wounded the director reportedly contained a “live round.”
A union that covers prop masters sent an email to its members Friday morning in which it said “a single live round was accidentally fired on set by the principal actor,” according to Indie Wire.
However, IndieWire on Friday evening added to its reporting to note that clarity surrounding the term “live round” was still needed.
“Citing a source close to Local 44, the Los Angeles Times reported that the union is unaware of what projectile was in the gun fired by Baldwin,” the report said. “The source pointed out that ‘live’ is an industry term that refers to a gun loaded with material, such as a blank, in preparation for filming.”
Baldwin, Friday, released a statement addressing the incident.
“There are no words to convey my shock and sadness regarding the tragic accident that took the life of Halyna Hutchins, a wife, mother and deeply admired colleague of ours,” the statement read. “I’m fully cooperating with the police investigation to address how this tragedy occurred and I am in touch with her husband, offering my support to him and his family.”
“My heart is broken for her husband, their son, and all who knew and loved Halyna,” Baldwin added.
This post has been updated with additional information
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