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Prop gun fired by Alec Baldwin ‘contained live round’

Prop gun fired by Alec Baldwin ‘contained live round’

The prop gun fired by Alec Baldwin which killed a cinematgrapher and injured a director contained a live round, it has been claimed.

Halyna Hutchins, director of photography on the film, was shot during the incident on Thursday, officials in Santa Fe, New Mexico, confirmed on Friday.

The 42-year-old was airlifted to University of New Mexico Hospital but she was later pronounced dead.

Director Joel Souza, 48, was also injured but is reported to have left hospital on Friday afternoon.

An email sent to members of the movie prop masters union, IATSE Local 44, said there had been an “accidental weapons discharge” on the set of the Western-style film Rust.

Secretary-Treasurer of the union Anthony Pawluc said in the email that “a live single round was accidentally fired on set by the principal actor”.

“A live single round was accidentally fired on set by the principal actor, hitting both the Director of Photography, Local 600 member Halnya Hutchins, and Director Joel Souza,” the email read.

“Local 44 has confirmed that the Props, Set Decoration, Special Effects and Construction Departments were staffed by New Mexico crew members. There were no Local 44 members on the call sheet.”

Halyna Hutchins (@HALYNAHUTCHINS via REUTERS)
Halyna Hutchins (@HALYNAHUTCHINS via REUTERS)

Meanwhile, Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Juan Rios told the New York Times that the incident happened in the middle of a scene that was being rehearsed or filmed.

“We’re trying to determine right now how and what type of projectile was used in the firearm,” he said.

The International Cinematographers Guild said on Thursday night: “We received the devastating news this evening, that one of our members, Halyna Hutchins, the Director of Photography on a production called ‘Rust’ in New Mexico died from injuries sustained on the set.

“The details are unclear at this moment, but we are working to learn more, and we support a full investigation into this tragic event. This is a terrible loss, and we mourn the passing of a member of our Guild’s family.”

Photographs published by The Santa Fe New Mexican newspaper on Friday show an emotional Baldwin - who was the main star and producer of the movie - doubled over and apparently in tears outside the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office.

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