A Cinematographer has on Thursday died after Hollywood actor and producer, Alec Baldwin shot a prop gun on a movie set in New Mexico, killing the director of photography and injuring the movie director, the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office said. The Director of photography, Halyna Hutchins, 42, was rushed to the University of New Mexico Hospital where she was pronounced dead, while the movie Director, Joel Souza, 48, was transported to Christus St. Vincent's Regional Medical Center.
"There was an accident today on the New Mexico set of Rust involving the misfire of a prop gun with blanks," a spokesperson for Baldwin said in a statement.
"Production has been halted for the time being. The safety of our cast and crew remains our top priority."
The statement added that "According to investigators it appears that the scene being filmed involved the use of a prop firearm when it was discharged,"
"Detectives are investigating how and what type of projectile was discharged."
The movie "Rust" is a western film set in the 1880s, about a 13-year old boy who runs off with his grandfather after he is sentenced to hang for accidentally killing a rancher. The movie stars Baldwin, Travis Fimmel, and Jensen Ackles.
The set is at the Bonanza Creek Ranch, where Western productions are often shot
Meanwhile, the Sheriff's office said the investigation "remains open and active" and no charges have been filed.
