An on-set accidental shooting involving Alec Baldwin had claimed the life of his new western movie’s photography director and injured another crew member early Friday morning.
“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 star wrote on Twitter following the ordeal.
“I am fully cooperating with the police investigation to address how this tragedy occurred.”
Baldwin added that he is “in touch” with the 41-year-old victim’s husband and that his “heart is broken” for him, their son, and all those who knew the decedent.
The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees explained that Baldwin fired a prop gun, but that round was not “blank.”
“A live single round was accidentally fired on set by the principal actor, hitting both the Director of Photography and Director Joel Souza.”
Prop gun expert Mike Tristano said he was “shocked” upon hearing the news because he had previously worked with Baldwin and knew the actor was “very professional, very safe.”
“There has to be circumstances here that we don’t about yet, but whoever the armorer person handling the guns, and handed that gun to Mr. Baldwin, that’s his or her responsibility to check that gun, make sure the rounds are the proper blank rounds and set up the shot to make sure whoever is firing is safe.”
