This horror scene was not on the program. On Thursday, October 21, 2021, Alec Baldwin killed a woman on the set of the film Rust, by accident, in New Mexico in the United States. The 63-year-old comedian, who was holding a blank loaded pistol, caused a shot that took the life of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, 42, and seriously injured director Joel Souza – he is currently in care intensive. “When the pistol was discharged, a shrapnel or bullet hit two people“declared the sheriff of Santa Fe in a press release, relayed in France by AFP.
Following the incident, Alec Baldwin was seen kneeling on the ground, dazed. He then made a phone call with a crestfallen face. The recipient of the call? A mystery. But according to a witness at the scene, a few seconds earlier, the actor repeated in a loop, firearm in hand, the sentence: “But why was I given a loaded pistol? With live ammunition?“The accident is tragic, for the victims as well as for the actor behind the shot.
There should have been dummy bullets in that gun
The film industry is in a state of misunderstanding. Such a mishap should never have happened, especially since accidents have happened in the past – Brandon Lee, son of Bruce Lee, had died in very similar circumstances in 1993 on the set of the film. The Crow. According to Mike Tristan, a veteran Hollywood arms supplier, the responsibility lies with the gunsmith hired by Joel Souza. “There should have been dummy bullets in that gun, he confirms to Dailymail. It’s his job to check this out before arming anyone. Then, you have to make sure that the actor stays in his place and does not point his pistol at anyone, neither someone from the cast, nor from the team. It’s the editing that makes us believe it.“
The sequence of events, legally speaking, is still a bit unclear. The investigation is currently ongoing. As for Alec Baldwin, he would have “provided statements and answered some questions“, according to local law enforcement.”He presented himself voluntarily and left the building after the end of the interrogations, we specify. No prosecution has been initiated and no arrests have been made …“