Alec Baldwin, 63, “discharged” a prop gun that fatally killed a crew member on his film Rust. Director of Photography Halyna Hutchins died after the on-set incident, while director Joel Souza was injured, Santa Fe Police confirmed to HollywoodLife. The shooting happened on location at the Bonanza Creek Ranch around 1:50 p.m. MDT, which prompted the set to go into immediate lockdown.
Hutchins, 42, was transported to Albuquerque, New Mexico’s University of New Mexico Hospital via helicopter shortly after the occurrence, where she died. Souza, also 42, underwent treatment for his injuries Christus St. Vincent Regional Medical facility, where he was brought via ambulance.
After the shooting, Alec was eventually charged with manslaughter, but he fought the charge. It was later announced the charge would be dropped on April 20, 2023. His lawyers Luke Nikas and Alex Spiro told PEOPLE in a statement the same day, “We are pleased with the decision to dismiss the case against Alec Baldwin and we encourage a proper investigation into the facts and circumstances of this tragic accident.”
“Santa Fe County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to the Bonanza Creek Ranch movie set of the western Rust, October 21, 2021, when an 911 caller reported a shooting on the set,” police said, per DEADLINE. The outlet also reports that the investigation is open and active, and that no charges have been filed.
BREAKING: Police confirm actor Alec Baldwin discharged a prop gun on the movie set of “Rust,” killing the director of photography and injuring the film’s director.
We’ll have the latest overnight, tomorrow morning live on GMA. pic.twitter.com/cQ1oGMnZSx
— Tony Morrison (@THETonyMorrison) October 22, 2021
A statement was also issued by the Cinematographers Guild’s National President, John Lindley, as well as the National Executive Director, Rebecca Rhine. “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,” they said jointly.
Alec has posted several social media updates about his new film, including one earlier in the day of himself dressed in a western style costume. “Back to in person at the office. Blimey…it’s exhausting,” the dad of seven captioned the post. In the film, the 63-year-old plays character Harland Rust who helps his teenage grandson go on the run after he’s sentenced to a hanging for the accidental killing of a Kansas rancher. Alec is both starring in and producing the film.