LOS ANGELES, Oct 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A woman has died after being shot during the filming of a movie starring Alec Baldwin, US law enforcement officers said.
The incident happened on a set in New Mexico, where Baldwin is playing the lead in a 19th-century western.
“Two individuals were shot during filming of a scene on the set of the movie western ‘Rust’,” the sheriff in Santa Fe said in a statement.
“One shooting victim, a 42-year-old female… has succumbed to her injuries.”
The sheriff’s office said the incident involved a gun that was being used as a prop.
“According to investigators 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.”
Trade title Deadline cited a source saying “a principal castmember” had cocked the gun during rehersals, unaware that it contained live rounds.
“This incident remains an active investigation,” the sheriff said.
The dead woman, who was 42 years old, had been airlifted to the University of New Mexico Hospital.
The second person, a 42-year-old man, was taken by ambulance to a different hospital where he was said to be receiving emergency care.
Film sets usually have stringent rules over the use of prop weapons, but accidents have happened.
Most famously, Brandon Lee, the son of martial arts legend Bruce Lee, died during filming of “The Crow” after being shot by a gun that was supposed to fire blanks. — NNN-AGENCIES
