Baldwin: Film set killing was 1-in-a-trillion tragedy
Grieving star breaks silence over shooting accident and says victim ‘was my friend’
ALEC Baldwin has spoken out for the first time since he accidentally shot dead a cinematographer, describing the on-set tragedy as a ‘one in a trillion’ episode.
The Hollywood actor, 63, told reporters that Halyna Hutchins was a ‘friend’ and revealed he is in ‘constant contact’ with her grief-stricken husband and nine-year-old son.
And he echoed calls to limit the use of firearms on film sets in the future, saying he would cooperate with restrictions ‘in any way’ possible.
His comments, made to journalists in Manchester, Vermont at the weekend, came almost two weeks after the fatal shooting of Mrs Hutchins, 42, on the set of low-budget Western, Rust.
She was killed after Baldwin, who had been told his prop gun did not contain live rounds, practised firing to the camera on set in New Mexico. The film’s 48-yearold director Joel Souza was also injured.
Authorities are investigating and have not ruled out criminal charges.
Addressing reporters in the street,
‘This horrible catastrophic thing’
Baldwin – standing alongside his wife Hilaria – said: ‘There are incidental accidents on film sets from time to time – but nothing like this. This is a one-in-atrillion episode.
‘She was my friend. The day I arrived in Santa Fe to start shooting I took her to dinner with Joel the director.
‘We were a very, very... well-oiled crew shooting a film together and then this horrible event happened.’
Asked about investigations into the tragedy, Baldwin said: ‘I’m not allowed to make any comments because it’s an ongoing investigation. I’ve been ordered by the Sheriff’s Department in Santa Fe. I can’t answer any questions about the investigation. I can’t.’ However, he said that he was ‘extremely interested’ in better control of weapons on Hollywood sets and said production of Rust – currently suspended – is unlikely to resume.
Baldwin added: ‘Something that I think is important [to remember] is, how many bullets have been fired in films and TV shows in the last 75 years. This is
America. How many bullets have gone off – nearly all of them without incident?’
But he conceded that in the wake of ‘this horrible catastrophic thing’, new measures needed to be put in place. These could include the use of alternative weapons – such as plastic imitation firearms – or rubber bullets.
He added: ‘[Controls are] not for me to decide. I’m not an expert in this field so whatever other people decide is the best way to go in terms of protecting people’s safety on film sets, I’m all in favour of. I will cooperate with that in any way that I can.’
Baldwin has reportedly been staying in the small town of Manchester with his 37-year-old wife, their six children and the family’s nanny following the tragedy.
According to the New York Post, his wife drove the family there after the shooting, saying: ‘Alec had a really traumatic thing happen and I am trying to limit the PTSD.’
His comments came days after Rust’s lead armourer broke her silence to accuse Rust’s producers of overruling her pleas for extra safety on set.
In a statement issued through her lawyers, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, 24, said safety had been her ‘number one priority’ and she had ‘no idea’ where the live round had come from.
The statement added: ‘The whole production set became unsafe due to various factors, including lack of safety meetings. This was not the fault of Hannah.’
Saying she would ‘never permit’ the firing of live rounds on set, it continued: ‘Hannah is devastated and completely beside herself.’