This afternoon, criminal investigators with the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Department responded to an incident at the set of Alec Baldwin’s upcoming film Rust in New Mexico. According to reports, two crew members were hospitalized following the misfiring of a prop gun.
Deadline reports that the injuries could be lethal. Rust Movie Productions LLC gave the outlet a statement.
“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.”
Details from Deadline’s sources suggest that a cast member fired a prop gun during rehearsals. It is unclear whether they were aware the gun held live rounds. But a man and woman were struck. The man was hit in the shoulder, the woman in the stomach. She is undergoing stomach surgery after being airlifted to the hospital.
The incident occurred on the Bonanza Creek Ranch in Santa Fe. As a result, the set was locked down, and a church on the property was closed off. It’s possible that the church may have been the location of the apparent accident. Though that has yet to be confirmed.
But there is no word yet on any criminal activity or charges. The Bonanza Creek location has played host to numerous movie productions in the past, including 3:10 to Yuma.
UPDATE: Female Crewmember Reportedly Dies After Being Airlifted to Hospital
According to Deadline, the female who was struck in the stomach by the prop gun mishap has died. She was undergoing emergency stomach surgery at the University of New Mexico Hospital.
However, the male, who was struck in the shoulder, was taken by ambulance to Christus St. Vincent’s hospital. He is receiving emergency treatment.
“Detectives are investigating how [the prop firearm was used] and what type of projectile was discharged,” the sheriff’s department offered in a statement.
Alec Baldwin is Starring In and Producing the Upcoming Western Movie
Alec Baldwin plays legendary outlaw Harland Rust in the upcoming movie. But he is also signed on as a producer. Though, Joel Souza is directing and wrote the movie. It began filming this month at the Bonanza Creek Ranch in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
The movie follows Baldwin’s Rust as he helps his 13-year old grandson escape the law. The kid, Lucas, was convicted of murder for an accidental death. But without Rust’s intervention, he would have been executed.
Further, Jensen Ackles of Supernatural fame was recently announced as an addition to the cast. He plays a U.S. Marshal named Wood Helm. His character has to chase down Rust, bringing him and his grandson to justice.
