While rehearsing a scene for the movie ‘Rust,’ actor Alec Baldwin misfired a prop gun, accidentally killing cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and wounding film director Joel Souza. The gun that was shot on set was said to have been checked by Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the film’s armorer, and then further inspected by David Halls, the assistant director. Both ensured the gun was either empty or filled with blanks before handing the gun to the actor, and Baldwin was told that the gun was safe to use before the scene. 

This isn’t the first time an accident on a movie set has happened before. Brandon Lee, Bruce Lee’s son, was filming for his upcoming movie, The Crow, when he was killed by a bullet fragment from a gunshot. The gun that killed him was supposed to be filled with blanks and was inspected before the shooting. Another instance was in 1984, when actor Jon-Erik Hexum accidentally shot himself in the head and died while playing Russian roulette on set. The force of the blank round that struck him fractured his skull. On-set shootings are rare, but not unheard of, with at least 43 people dying on set and another 150 sustaining life-altering injuries since 1990 in a study done by the Associated Press. 

Local law enforcement is currently working on the investigation to find out how exactly this tragedy took place. The Sheriff’s office spokesman, Juan Rios, stated on Friday afternoon that the investigation “remains active and ongoing.” Rios also stated that local authorities are investigating the projectile and are determining what type of gun was used with a live round within it.

Baldwin also put out his own statement on Twitter, stating: “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.”

As for the victims’ family, many people have reached out to Halyna Hutchins’ husband and son, giving them their full strength and support to get through this tough time.