Alec Baldwin shot and killed a woman — cinematographer Halyna Huthcis — on accident while filming his new movie ‘Rust,’ so he’s “canceling other projects” to deal with the tragedy.
via People:
A source tells PEOPLE that Baldwin, 63, is looking “to take some time to himself and re-center himself,” as he has during difficult times in the past.
“This was pretty devastating,” the source says. “This is how he handles difficult times. Whenever something bad happens, in the short term, he removes himself from [the] public eye.”
The source confirms to PEOPLE that Baldwin was “hysterical and absolutely inconsolable for hours” following the shooting: “Everyone knows this was an accident, but he’s absolutely devastated.
On Thursday, authorities responded to an incident at the New Mexico set of Rust around 1:50 p.m. local time following 911 calls indicating “an individual had been shot on set,” the Santa Fe Sheriff’s Department wrote in a press release obtained by PEOPLE.
Upon further investigation, the sheriff’s department learned that Hutchins, 42, and Souza, 48, were “shot when a prop firearm was discharged” by Baldwin, 63, during a camera test.
Hutchins was airlifted to the University of New Mexico Hospital where she died from her injuries, according to the sheriff’s department. Souza was hospitalized, but his reps told Deadline he has since been released.
“[Baldwin] is someone who really deeply cares, so he can be very hard on himself,” the source shares. “That’s true in general, in situations nowhere near as serious as this. But in this situation, it’s a whole other level because of the loss of life involved.”
“It’s going to take him time to figure all this out,” they add. “He needs to take a while to himself, to be with his family.”
So far, no charges have been filed and an investigation remains ongoing.
In the wake of the tragedy, a source previously told PEOPLE that “Alec is still trying to get his head around everything that happened. This has been devastating. It’s been incredibly difficult.”
Baldwin first spoke out regarding the incident on Friday morning, issuing a two-part statement on Twitter.
“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,” the actor began.
“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,” he continued. “My heart is broken for her husband, their son, and all who knew and loved Halyna.”
Hutchins’ husband Matthew, with whom she shares 9-year-old son Andros, has since been in contact with Baldwin. “I have spoken with Alec Baldwin and he is being very supportive,” Matthew told the Daily Mail.
The Rust film set has been shut down following Hutchins’ death, with production indefinitely paused, according to the production company, Rust Movie Productions, LLC.
“The entire cast and crew has been absolutely devastated by today’s tragedy, and we send our deepest condolences to Halyna’s family and loved ones,” the company said in a statement on Thursday. “We have halted production on the film for an undetermined period of time and are fully cooperating with the Santa Fe Police Department’s investigation. We will be providing counseling services to everyone connected to the film as we work to process this awful event.”
This whole incident is unbelievably tragic — and it’s already spurred some changes in Hollywood.
