(CN) — On the set of a western movie in Santa Fe, New Mexico, 68-year-old actor Alec Baldwin shot two members of the film crew with a prop gun Thursday, resulting in one death.
Cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, 42, was airlifted to the University of New Mexico Hospital via helicopter but did not survive her injuries.
"Halyna Hutchins was a ray of light. Always smiling, always hopeful," a spokesperson for Innovative Artists said via email. "She decided early on she would take the craft of cinematography by storm and the last couple of years proved she was well on her way."
"Her talent was immense, only surpassed by the love she had for her family. All those in her orbit knew what was coming; a star director of photography, who would be a force to be reckoned with,” the statement continued.
The film’s writer and director Joel Souza, 48, was released from a Santa Fe hospital 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,” Baldwin wrote in a message posted on Twitter.
“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," Baldwin added.
In a statement, the Santa Fe Sheriff’s office said the gun was likely fired during filming.
“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 office said. Charges have not been filed, and a representative for the sheriff's office said the investigation is ongoing
The IMDb page for the film, called “Rust,” describes it as being set in 1880's Kansas and follows a 13-year-old boy on the run with his grandfather after he was "sentenced to hang for the accidental killing of a local rancher."
The Alec Baldwin Foundation declined to comment.
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