(Los Angeles) American star Alec Baldwin said Friday he was “devastated” to have killed the day before, presumably accidentally, a director of photography on the set of a western in the US state of New Mexico, a an event as tragic as it is extremely rare in cinema.
“Words fail me to express my amazement and my sadness after the tragic accident which killed Halyna Hutchins”, wrote the comedian on Twitter, who activated on Thursday a firearm used on the set of the film “Rust”, touching the director of photography, who later died of her injuries, as well as director Joel Souza.
“I fully cooperate with the police investigation as to how this tragedy may have taken place and I am in contact with (the) husband (of Halyna Hutchins) to offer my support and his family,” adds the actor.
Halyna Hutchins, 42, was evacuated by helicopter on Thursday to a nearby hospital, where she was pronounced dead by medics.
“Rust” director Joel Souza, 48, was admitted to hospital before he could be discharged a few hours later, according to a tweet from “Rust” actress Frances Fisher who received a text from M. Souza.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, citing a production spokesperson, it was an “accident” involving a prop that had to be blank loaded. Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Services also said the drama appeared to be related to a weapon serving as a prop on set.
The investigation continued on Friday and no prosecution has been initiated at this stage, the sheriff said in a statement on Thursday.
“Mr. Baldwin was questioned by the police,” Sheriff spokesman Juan Rios told AFP. “He made statements and answered some questions. He introduced himself voluntarily and left the building after the interrogation was over. No prosecution has been initiated and no arrests have been made. ”
The local Santa Fe New Mexican newspaper published images of visibly distraught Alec Baldwin, taken in a parking lot after the tragedy. This publication specifies that its reporters saw the actor in tears after his questioning by investigators.
“The entire cast and crew are totally devastated by today’s tragedy, and we extend our sincere condolences to Halyna’s family and loved ones,” the production spokesperson said in a statement. . “We have stopped shooting the film for an indefinite period and are fully cooperating” with the investigation.
“Rust” is a western written and directed by Joel Souza, starring co-producer Alec Baldwin as outlaw Harland Rust, who fled with his 13-year-old grandson when the latter is convicted of an accidental homicide by hanging for murder.
The previous Brandon Lee
Halyna Hutchins lived in Los Angeles and was considered a rising star of American cinema. Born in Ukraine, she grew up in a Soviet military base in the Arctic Circle, according to her website.
In a statement to AFP, the spokesman for the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said the Ukrainian consulate in San Francisco was working with police to clarify the circumstances of his death.
The drama that claimed his life took place at Bonanza Creek Ranch, which is used extensively in westerns, and which was cordoned off by police.
63-year-old Alec Baldwin has made himself particularly popular in the United States in recent years for his imitations of Donald Trump on the famous satirical show “Saturday Night Live”.
In “The singer and the billionaire” and “Guet-Apens”, he shared the poster with Kim Basinger. The two formed a couple of the most glamorous of the time before a very acrimonious divorce.
In the 2000s, the New York actor received two Emmy Awards, equivalent to the Oscars for American television, for the “30 Rock” sitcom where he played a studio boss opposite Tina Fey. With its seven seasons, the comedy had signed a real success for Baldwin and considerably improved his reputation as an actor.
In March 1993, actor Brandon Lee, son of martial arts star Bruce Lee, then 27, died on the set of the movie “The Crow” after being injured in the stomach by a bullet stuck in the body. barrel and dislodged by the detonation of a blank cartridge. The prosecutor in charge of the investigation had concluded with the “negligence”.