A female crewmember has died and a male crewmember is in emergency care after an accident involving a prop gun on the set of the Alec Baldwin Western Rust. As Deadline and other outlets report, the gun was believed to be loaded with blanks. The names of the victims have not been publicly released.
The shooting took place on Thursday, October 21st at the Bonanza Creek Ranch near Santa Fe, New Mexico. During a rehearsal, a principal castmember reportedly cocked and fired a prop gun, hitting a woman in the stomach and a man in the shoulder. The woman died after being airlifted to University of New Mexico Hospital, while the man was transported by ambulance to Christus St. Vincent’s hospital.
“Detectives are investigating how [the prop firearm was used] and what type of projectile was discharged,” the Sante Fe County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement. “This incident remains an active investigation. As more information becomes available, updates will be provided.”
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Earlier in the day, a spokesperson for Rust Movie Productions LLC said, “There was an accident today on the New Mexico set of Rust involving the misfire of a prop gun with blanks. Two crew members have been taken to the hospital and are receiving care. Production has been halted for the time being. The safety of our cast and crew remains our top priority.”
Rust stars Baldwin and is written and directed by Joel Souza, from a story by Souza and Baldwin. The film co-stars Travis Fimmel (Vikings), Brady Noon (Boardwalk Empire), Frances Fisher (Titanic), and Jensen Ackles (Supernatural). Which principal castmember fired the gun has not been disclosed.
