The filmmaker has been released from hospital after being injured in a fatal on-set accident that tragically claimed the life of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.
- Oct 23, 2021
AceShowbiz - Director Joel Souza is out of the hospital after being wounded by actor Alec Baldwin in an on-set shooting which claimed the life of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.
Police confirmed Baldwin fired a prop gun on the set of western "Rust" on Thursday (21Oct21), fatally killing Hutchins and wounding Souza who was reported to be in intensive care.
According to editors at Deadline, the filmmaker's representatives confirmed the news after Baldwin's co-star Frances Fisher tweeted, during an interaction with actress Patricia Arquette, that Souza had told her he was out of hospital.
Arquette tweeted, "My heart goes out to Halyna Hutchins family. What a heartbreaking loss. Sending prayers to Joel Souza. I'm sure everyone is devastated." And Fisher messaged back, "Director Joel Souza told me he's out of hospital."
She restated the comment during an online interaction in which she corrected a Twitter user who shared an unsubstantiated claim from an article that suggested Baldwin cocked and fired a gun - meant to be loaded with blanks - and "did not know the prop contained live rounds."
Fisher tweeted, "Those quotes are incorrect. And our director Joel Souza is out of hospital."
The Sante Fe, New Mexico Sheriff's Department said in a statement on Thursday, "According to investigators it appears that the scene being filmed involved the use of a prop firearm when it was discharged. Detectives are investigating how and what type of projectile was discharged."
Hutchins was flown by helicopter to the University of New Mexico Hospital in Albuquerque, where she was pronounced dead.
Souza was transported by ambulance to Christus St. Vincent Regional Medical Center in Santa Fe, where he underwent treatment for his injuries.
The investigation is ongoing and police are now interviewing witnesses.
