CNN

Director of photography killed, movie director injured after Alec Baldwin discharged prop firearm on movie set

Oct 22, 2021, 7:14 AM

FILE: NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 23 (Photo by Alec Tabak-Pool/Getty Images)...

FILE: NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 23 (Photo by Alec Tabak-Pool/Getty Images)

(Photo by Alec Tabak-Pool/Getty Images)

Originally Published: 21 OCT 21 22:06 ET
Updated: 22 OCT 21 07:17 ET

    (CNN) — A film crew member has died and another was injured after actor Alec Baldwin discharged a prop firearm on the set of the movie “Rust” in New Mexico on Thursday, according to a law enforcement statement provided to CNN.

Director of photography Halyna Hutchins, 42, was transported to the hospital via helicopter and pronounced dead by medical personnel at University of New Mexico Hospital, according to the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office.

Director Joel Souza, 48, was transported to Christus St. Vincent’s Regional Medical Center by ambulance for care. Details on his condition were not released.

“According to investigators it appears that the scene being filmed involved the use of a prop firearm when it was discharged,” the statement said. “Detectives are investigating how and what type of projectile was discharged.”

The incident happened at approximately 1:50 p.m. local time, investigators said.

“Rust” is a Western film set in the 1880s that stars Baldwin, Travis Fimmel and Jensen Ackles.

Email requests for comment sent to the film’s production company and a representative for Baldwin were not immediately returned.

The Sheriff’s Office said the investigation “remains open and active” and no charges have been filed.

It’s happened before

It’s not the first time people have been killed by what were supposed to be harmless guns on a movie set.

While filming the movie “The Crow” in 1993, actor Brandon Lee, the son of Bruce Lee, was killed when struck by a bullet from a gun that was supposed to have just blanks, but had a bullet lodged in the barrel.

Even blanks can be deadly if fired at very close range. In 1984, actor John-Eric Hexum was playing around with a gun on the set of “Cover Up: Golden Opportunity” and died after putting the gun to his head and pulling the trigger.

“They all contain a charge, a powder that creates the noise and the explosive, the visual blast, and usually it’s some kind of wire or something that explodes out of the weapon when it’s fired,” Daniel Oates, former police chief of Miami Beach and Aurora, Colorado.

“These weapons can be very, very dangerous,” Oates said on CNN’s “New Day” Friday.

The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2021 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved.

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Send it to the KSL NewsRadio team here.

CNN

us capitol shown, government shutdown deadline approaching...

Lauren Fox, Clare Foran and Manu Raju, CNN

Border policy a key sticking point in Congress with shutdown deadline just days away

While government operations would halt if funding is not approved in time, the damage would be minimal if a shutdown is relegated to the weekend.

10 hours ago

Hitting peak time for the cherry tree bloom in Washington, D.C., can be a little tricky. But if you...

Aileen Graef and Elisa Raffa, CNN

‘Peak bloom!’: Cherry blossoms open early in DC, park service announces

Originally Published: 17 MAR 24 19:48 ET Updated: 17 MAR 24 19:55 ET (CNN) — The cherry blossoms lining the National Mall in Washington, DC, have hit “peak bloom,” bursting open in an early spring display after a warm winter, the National Park Service announced Sunday. “PEAK BLOOM! PEAK BLOOM! PEAK BLOOM! Did we say […]

17 hours ago

Environmental Conservation officers seize an alligator from a home in Hamburg, New York, on March 1...

Zoe Sottile, CNN

Authorities seize 750-pound alligator named Albert from New York home

A New York man was forced to say “see you later" to his alligator after local authorities determined he was keeping the reptile illegally.

18 hours ago

Elon Musk, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Rupert Murdoch are pictured in a split ima...

Tierney Sneed, CNN

Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s family dissents after award in her name is given to Elon Musk and Rupert Murdoch

Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s family wants her name off an award due to it being received by Elon Musk and Rupert Murdoch.

19 hours ago

Zach Edey of the Purdue Boilermakers blocks a shot during the second half of a game against Ohio St...

Issy Ronald, CNN

March Madness: Here are the top seeds for the men’s NCAA basketball tournament

The top four seeds are the Connecticut Huskies, Purdue Boilermakers, North Carolina Tar Heels and Houston Cougars.

1 day ago

The Biden administration is welcoming six new countries to a US-led pact to crack down on phone-hac...

Sean Lyngaas, CNN

US welcomes new governments to fight against spyware as it finds more American personnel have been targeted

The Biden administration is welcoming six new countries to a US-led pact to crack down on phone-hacking spyware.

1 day ago

Sponsored Articles

Mother and cute toddler child in a little fancy wooden cottage, reading a book, drinking tea and en...

Visit Bear Lake

How to find the best winter lodging in Bear Lake, Utah

Winter lodging in Bear Lake can be more limited than in the summer, but with some careful planning you can easily book your next winter trip.

Happy family in winter clothing at the ski resort, winter time, watching at mountains in front of t...

Visit Bear Lake

Ski more for less: Affordable ski resorts near Bear Lake, Utah

Plan your perfect ski getaway in Bear Lake this winter, with pristine slopes, affordable tickets, and breathtaking scenery.

front of the Butch Cassidy museum with a man in a cowboy hat standing in the doorway...

Bear Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau

Looking Back: The History of Bear Lake

The history of Bear Lake is full of fascinating stories. At over 250,000 years old, the lake has seen generations of people visit its shores.

silhouette of a family looking over a lake with a bird in the top corner flying...

Bear Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau

8 Fun Activities To Do in Bear Lake Without Getting in the Water

Bear Lake offers plenty of activities for the whole family to enjoy without having to get in the water. Catch 8 of our favorite activities.

Wellsville Mountains in the spring with a pond in the foreground...

Wasatch Property Management

Advantages of Renting Over Owning a Home

Renting allows you to enjoy luxury amenities and low maintenance without the long-term commitment and responsibilities of owning a home.

Clouds over a red rock vista in Hurricane, Utah...

Wasatch Property Management

Why Southern Utah is a Retirement Paradise

Retirement in southern Utah offers plenty of cultural and recreational opportunities. Find out all that this region has to offer.

Director of photography killed, movie director injured after Alec Baldwin discharged prop firearm on movie set