Halyna Hutchins Shot By Alec Baldwin In Filming Accident

LOS ANGELES, CA — Cinematographer and mother Halyna Hutchins was killed Thursday in New Mexico after a prop gun with "a live round" was fired by actor and producer Alec Baldwin during filming of the movie "Rust," according to a labor union. She was 42.

Hutchins was airlifted to a hospital and later died. The film's director, Joel Souza, was also hit and injured. He was taken to another hospital and released.

The union that represents prop masters told its members early Friday that the gun had a live bullet in it and that the production's prop master was not a member, according to news reports. The union is Local 44 of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, or I.A.T.S.E.

Hutchins' death shocked the film industry as the union pushed to ratify an agreement that addresses core issues for film crews, such as reasonable rest periods, meal breaks and a living wage for those on the bottom of the wage scale.

Baldwin shared a statement via Twitter Friday morning.

"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 and I am in touch with her husband, offering my support to him and his family. My heart is broken for her husband, their son, and all who knew and loved Halyna.

Hutchins was born in 1979 in Ukraine. She was a 2015 graduate of the American Film Institute and worked as director of photography on the 2020 action film "Archenemy," starring Joe Manganiello. She was named a "rising star" by American Cinematographer magazine in 2019.

"I woke up to the messages and read the news and I am in shock," Manganiello said on Instagram. "I was so lucky to have had @halynahutchins as my DP on Archenemy. She was an absolutely incredible talent and a great person. She had such an eye and a visual style, she was the kind of cinematographer that you wanted to see succeed because you wanted to see what she could pull off next. She was a fantastic person. There was no amount of pressure she couldn’t handle."

AFI released the following statement after her death.

"As is profoundly true in the art of cinematography, words alone cannot capture the loss of one so dear to the AFI community. At the American Film Institute, we pledge to see that Halyna Hutchins will live on in the spirit of all who strive to see their dreams realized in stories well told."

Actor Paul Scheer responded on Twitter. "I’m gutted," he said. "This is beyond a tragedy and there are so many rules in place to make sure this can’t happen. I can’t even fathom how this is possible. So many people had to be negligent. This is a crime. Halyna was a tremendous talent. I’m sick to my stomach."

IATSE Local 44 sent an email to its members early Friday morning that said the gun used in the scene contained “a live round.”

Bill Dill, Hutchins' former teacher, shared his thoughts on her death and called for change.

"The news of the passing of Halyna Hutchins is sad beyond words," he said on Facebook. "Teachers shouldn't bury their students. If I died, it might be sad, or maybe just inconvenient, but not tragic. Halyna's death, with her enormous stolen potential, is a tragedy of immense proportions. We should all feel anger at this remarkable young woman dying on a damn movie set. We should find out what happened and make sure it can't happen again."

"Rust," a Western movie, was filming at the Bonanza Creek Ranch south of Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Production halted Thursday night. No charges have been filed so far as law enforcement officials continue to investigate the shooting.

Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office spokesman Juan Rios said detectives were investigating what type of projectile was discharged and how the gun misfired.

"This investigation remains open and active," Rios said in a statement. "No charges have been filed in regard to this incident. Witnesses continue to be interviewed by detectives."

Hutchins is survived by a son and husband.

Editor's Note: This story was updated at 9:38 a.m. with a response from Alec Baldwin.

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SEE MORE:

• LA-Based Cinematographer Shot By Alec Baldwin On Set: NM Sheriff
• Alec Baldwin Fired Prop Gun That Killed Cinematographer: Sheriff