Alec Baldwin accidentally kills a woman and wounds a man by firing a prop gun on the set of “Rust”

(CNN) – On the set of the film “Rust” in New Mexico, the cinematographer was killed and the film director injured after actor Alec Baldwin fired a prop firearm Thursday, according to a law enforcement statement. provided to CNN.

Director of Photography Halyna Hutchins, 42, was taken to the hospital by helicopter and was pronounced dead by medical staff at the University of New Mexico Hospital, according to the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office.

The film’s director, Joel Souza, 48, was taken to Christus St. Vincent Regional Medical Center by ambulance for care. No details were released about his condition.

“According to investigators, it appears that the scene being filmed involved the use of a backup firearm when it was fired,” said a statement from authorities. “Detectives are investigating how and what type of projectile was discharged.”

The incident occurred at approximately 1:50 p.m. local time on Thursday, investigators said.

“Rust” is a western film set in the 1880s starring Alec Baldwin, Travis Fimmel, and Jensen Ackles.

Email requests for comment sent to the film’s production company and a representative for Alec Baldwin were not immediately returned.

The Sheriff’s Office said the investigation “remains open and active” and no charges have been filed.

Has happened before

It is not the first time that people have been killed with what were supposed to be harmless weapons on a film set.

While filming the movie “The Raven” in 1993, actor Brandon Lee, Bruce Lee’s son, was killed when he was hit by a bullet from a gun that was supposed to have only salvos, but had a bullet lodged in the barrel.

Salvage bullets can be deadly if fired at very close range. In 1984, actor John-Eric Hexum was playing with a gun on the set of “Cover Up: Golden Opportunity” and died after putting the gun to his head and pulling the trigger.

“They all contain a charge, a gunpowder that creates the noise and the explosive, the visual explosion, and it’s usually some kind of wire or something that explodes from the gun when fired,” said Daniel Oates, former Miami Beach Police Chief. . and Aurora, Colorado.

“These weapons can be very, very dangerous,” Oates said on CNN’s “New Day” show on Friday.

CNN’s Theresa Waldrop contributed to this report