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Prop gun fired by Alec Baldwin that killed cinematographer ‘contained live round’


The gun reportedly contained a live round (Picture: AP/Getty)

The prop gun that fatally shot cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the Alec Baldwin film Rust reportedly contained a ‘live round’.

In an email sent to the members of the IATSE Local 44 trade union, which covers prop masters, it was stated that Rust’s prop master was not a member of Local 44.

As reported by IndieWire, Secretary-Treasurer Anthony Pawluc called the incident ’an accidental weapons discharge’ in the which ‘a live single round was accidentally fired on set by the principal actor, hitting both the Director of Photography, Local 600 member Halyna 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.’

Hutchins, 42, was reportedly shot in the stomach when Alec Baldwin, 63, discharged the prop gun during filming.

Director Joel Souza was also shot in the shoulder, although he has since been released from hospital.

Hutchins was rushed to the University of New Mexico Hospital by helicopter, but was pronounced dead at the hospital.

IATSE said that Rust’s prop master was not registered with Local 44 (Picture: @Frances_Fisher)

Sources told Showbiz 411 that Baldwin ‘kept asking why he was handed a “hot gun”’, and said: ‘In all my years, I’ve never been handed a hot gun.’

A hot gun means a gun with real ammunition.

They added the actor and producer was taken to hospital immediately and had ‘no idea how badly they were hurt or Halyna was dead’.

Police previously said a ‘projectile’ was fired by a ‘prop gun’ and they are investigating, while, according to Deadline, a spokesperson for Baldwin said there was an accident involving the misfire of a prop gun with blanks.

The Santa Fe Police Department confirmed they are investigating the incident, and that Baldwin willingly gave a statement.

No charges have been filed.

A spokesperson for Rust said: ‘The entire cast and crew has been absolutely devastated by today’s tragedy, and we send our deepest condolences to Halyna’s family and loved ones.

‘We have halted production on the film for an undetermined period of time and are fully cooperating with the Santa Fe Police Department’s investigation. We will be providing counselling services to everyone connected to the film as we work to process this awful event.’



Who is Halyna Hutchins?

Halyna Hutchins, a mother of one, was born in the Ukraine and grew up on a Soviet military base in the Arctic Circle before attending Kyiv National University.

After graduating with a degree in international journalism, she worked as an investigative journalist for British documentaries in Eastern Europe.

However, Hutchins’ true passion lay in filmmaking, and she moved to Los Angeles, where she got work as a production assistant and a grip electric.

She also shot her own short films, inspired by cinematographers including Christopher Doyle and Sergey Urusevskiy.

On the advice of cinematographer Robert Primes, Hutchins enrolled the filmmaking MFA programme at the American Film Institute Conservatory in 2013 and graduated two years later.

In 2018, Hutchins was one of eight female cinematographers selected for the inaugural 21st Century Fox DP Lab, and in 2019, she was chosen as a Rising Star by American Cinematographer magazine.

Hutchins went on to work on films including horrors The Mad Hatter and Darlin’ and police drama Blindfire, and the BET+ series A Luv Tale: The Series.

She also worked on the Joe Mangianello mystery thriller Archenemy, which premiered at Beyond Fest 2020 and received a nomination at the Sitges International Film Festival.


MORE : Alec Baldwin’s brother Stephen asks for prayers after actor accidentally shoots dead Halyna Hutchins


MORE : Alec Baldwin ‘asked why he was handed hot gun’ after tragic accidental shooting of crew member on set





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