News October 22, 2021
Hollywood Remembers Cinematographer Halyna Hutchins After Fatal Accidental Shooting on Alec Baldwin Film Set

Members of the entertainment industry are mourning Halyna Hutchins after the rising cinematographer was accidentally fatally shot by Alec Baldwin on the New Mexico set of “Rust.”
Per a statement from the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s office, deputies were dispatched to the Bonanza Creek Ranch on Thursday in response to a call of a shooting on the set of the upcoming western film.
Authorities confirmed that Hutchins, 42, and director Joel Souza, 48, were shot after Baldwin, an actor and producer on the project, discharged a prop firearm.
Hutchins was transported via helicopter to University of New Mexico Hospital, where she was pronounced dead by medical personnel.
Souza was transported by ambulance to Christus St. Vincent Regional Medical center. According to Frances Fisher, an actress on the movie, Souza has since been released.
Director Joel Souza told me he’s out of hospital.
— Frances Fisher (@Frances_Fisher) October 22, 2021 @Frances_Fisher
A representative from the police department told Deadline Thursday evening that Baldwin was questioned by investigators and was released.
“No arrests or charges have been filed,” the spokesperson added.
After the tragic news broke, various producers, directors, and actors — including Joe Manganiello, who worked with Hutchins on the 2020 movie “Archenemy” — paid their respects on social media.
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My greatest fear is that someone will be fatally hurt on one of my sets. I pray this will never happen. My heart goes out to all of those affected by the tragedy today on Rust, especially Halyna Hutchins & her family.
— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) October 22, 2021 @JamesGunn
— Ava DuVernay (@ava) October 22, 2021 @ava
On Monday, Baldwin released a statement on his Twitter page, expressing shock over the tragedy. In addition to being in communication with Hutchins’ husband, the actor says he is fully cooperating with police on their investigation.
1-
— AlecBaldwin(HABF) (@AlecBaldwin) October 22, 2021 @AlecBaldwin
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
2- 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.
— AlecBaldwin(HABF) (@AlecBaldwin) October 22, 2021 @AlecBaldwin
That same day, in a brief interview with Insider, Hutchins‘ husband, Matthew Hutchins, spoke out about his wife’s passing.
"I don't think there are words to communicate the situation," he told the outlet by phone. "I am not going to be able to comment about the facts or the process of what we're going through right now, but I appreciate that everyone has been very sympathetic."
"I think that we will need a little bit of time before we can really encapsulate her life in a way that is easy to communicate," he concluded.
The Post reports that Matthew is currently in Santa Fe with the couple’s 9-year-old son.
On Friday, an email from the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 44, a union for prop masters, says the gun that Baldwin fired allegedly contained “a live round.”
Secretary-Treasurer Anthony Pawluc also confirmed that the film production’s “Props, Set Decoration, Special Effects and Construction Departments were staffed by New Mexico crew members” and were not members of the union.
This email contradicts an earlier statement from Baldwin’s spokesperson who reportedly told People magazine on Thursday that the prop gun allegedly contained “blanks.”
Our condolences go out to Halyna’s family and loved ones, and everyone affected by this tragedy.