'My heart is broken' -Baldwin after fatal shooting
Following a tragic shooting on a New Mexico movie set - where actor Alec Baldwin fired a prop gun that killed the film's cinematographer – Baldwin on Friday tweeted ‘my heart is broken’.
The tweet read (quote): "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. I'm fully cooperating with the police investigation to address how this tragedy occurred.”
He added: "I am in touch with her husband, offering my support to him and his family.”
Days earlier, Hutchins had posted an Instagram video of herself riding a horse. On Thursday afternoon, Hutchins was shot by Baldwin - an actor and co-producer of the film ‘RUST’ - on set at a ranch south of Santa Fe.
She was transported by helicopter to the University of Mexico Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
The film's director, Joel Souza, was wounded and taken by ambulance to a local hospital. He was later released.
The Santa Fe Sheriff's Department said late on Thursday that no charges had been filed and the investigation remained "open and active."
Local media reported that Baldwin was seen distraught and in tears outside the sheriff’s office, and said he voluntarily gave authorities a statement about the shooting.
Andriy Semenyuk, a friend and colleague of Hutchins, said he wants to focus not on Baldwin, but on remembering Hutchins. He described her as a shining star:
"I think word 'incredible' is not even to begin to describe her personally. Really generous, really talented, really upbeat. There is never 'no' from her and I think it was this kind of easy-going personality and at the same time working with her was like incredible work ethics."
The shooting evoked memories of an on-set accident in 1993 when actor Brandon Lee, son of martial arts legend Bruce Lee, died after being wounded by a prop gun while filming "The Crow."
Thursday’s accident has renewed debate about whether certain types of prop guns should be banned.
