In the evening hours of October 21st, the news broke that tragedy had struck the set of “Rust”, a film to star Alec Baldwin, at Bonanza Creek Ranch, outside of Santa Fe, NM. Director of Photography Halyna Hutchins and Director Joel Souza were struck with either shrapnel or a bullet after Baldwin discharged a firearm that was supposedly loaded with blanks. Souza, 48 was wounded and is expected to recover. However, Hutchins, 42 was tragically killed. According to TMZ who broke the story, “Alec Baldwin was filming a scene for a movie that required someone to fire a gun loaded with blanks, but when the gun discharged either shrapnel or a bullet hit 2 people on set” An investigation by the Santa Fe County Sherriff’s Department is underway.
Sheriff's office: Alec Baldwin discharged prop gun that killed crew member, wounded directorhttps://t.co/lBQ8Wpg08Z
— Santa Fe New Mexican (@thenewmexican) October 22, 2021
Almost immediately after the incident became well known, Twitter users and journalists alike immediately began to draw the connection between this tragedy and the similar 1993 incident which claimed the life of Brandon Bruce Lee when an improperly made .44-caliber dummy round was lodged in the barrel of his “prop” revolver, (an actual firearm with a “blank” load) only to be discharged when he fired the blank.
What is a blank cartridge, then?
The firing mechanism is the same as for a live round. There is a build-up of gas to create sufficient pressure to produce an explosive sound and a muzzle flash but there is no bullet at the end of the cartridge pic.twitter.com/kVnTzf5vDL
— The Times (@thetimes) October 22, 2021
Lee’s Twitter account which is maintained by his sister posted that,
“No one should ever be killed by a gun on a film set. Period.”
Our hearts go out to the family of Halyna Hutchins and to Joel Souza and all involved in the incident on “Rust”. No one should ever be killed by a gun on a film set. Period. 💔
— Brandon Bruce Lee (@brandonblee) October 22, 2021
Hundreds of others online immediately reminded the public of one of Baldwin’s tweets from 2017 which harshly criticized a Huntington Beach police officer for shooting a suspect in a struggle outside of a seven eleven. Baldwin wrote, “I wonder how it must feel to wrongfully kill someone…”
I wonder how it must feel to wrongfully kill someone…https://t.co/WE6QsAAXGI
— AlecBaldwin (@AlecBaldwln____) September 23, 2017
The tragic irony wasn’t lost on many. And a very long and very sad history of tweets has emerged showing the actor making light of accidents involving firearms and suggesting that second amendment supporters should be shot. Baldwin even targeted RINO Congresswoman Liz Cheney and her father Fmr. Vice President Dick Cheney.
Alec Baldwin has called for hunters to shot on at least two occasions.
You can have tremendous sympathy for the people shot today, as all decent people do, without ignoring Baldwin’s disturbing and unhinged past. pic.twitter.com/GlrIbwBuuD
— Cernovich (@Cernovich) October 22, 2021
Baldwin Issues A Statement Following Shooting
The 63-year-old actor issued a statement in the early hours of October 22st regarding the incident. He wrote,
“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 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.”