Alec Baldwin accidentally shot the director of his new movie, but he managed to save his arm and was photographed with his arm in a sling.
Joel Souza, 48 was standing right behind Halyna Hutchins (42), and was struck by the same bullet that killed both.
Last night, a sombre Mr Souza was seen outside his home in Palo Alto, California, as friends described his ‘devastation’.
Devastated: Joel Souza (48), the director who survived being accidentally killed by Alec Baldwin while filming his new movie, was photographed with his arm in a sling for the first-time.
One said: ‘Joel is in pieces. He was standing right beside Halyna. Alec shot straight at them both as they were looking at the camera monitor. He is utterly devastated.’
The bullet pierced mother-of-one Ms Hutchins’ chest on the set of the low-budget Western Rust. She died after being airlifted to a hospital in Albuquerque, New Mexico, a half-hour flight from remote Bonanza Creek Ranch where the £4.5 million movie was being filmed.
The bullet was removed from Mr Souza’s shoulder during surgery. He spent the night in hospital but is expected to make a full and complete recovery.
Mr Souza was standing directly behind cinematographer Halyna Hutchins (pictured) and was hit by the same bullet that killed her on October 21 as they filmed upcoming movie Rust in Santa Fe, New Mexico
Victim: The bullet pierced mother-of-one Ms Hutchins’ chest on the set of the low-budget Western Rust. She was airlifted into a hospital where she died. Her family left behind a son, nine.
The investigation into Ms Hutchins’s death on October 21 continues, with police saying they have not ruled out bringing criminal charges.
Mr Baldwin was handed the .45 vintage Colt revolver by assistant director Dave Halls who shouted ‘cold gun’, the Hollywood term for an unloaded, ‘safe’ weapon. It did contain a live bullet.
A distraught Mr Baldwin was photographed weeping and doubled over in shock moments after the accident and told sheriffs: ‘I had no idea the gun was hot’ (loaded).
Yesterday, the 61-year old spoke out about the incident in public for the first time. He said he was cooperating to police and that he speaks with them every day.
Alec Baldwin is pictured sobbing after shooting and killing cinematographer Halyna Hutchins A distraught Mr Baldwin was photographed weeping and doubled over in shock moments after the accident and told sheriffs: ‘I had no idea the gun was hot’ (loaded)
‘It’s an active investigation,’ he told photographers. ‘A woman died, she was my friend. We were a very, very well-oiled crew shooting a film together, and then this horrible event happened.’
Speaking of the cinematographer’s husband Matthew, Mr Baldwin said: ‘He is in shock, he has a nine-year-old son. We are in constant contact with him because we are very worried about his family and his kid.’
When asked if he’d work on a set with firearms again, the actor said he ‘couldn’t answer that question… I do know that an ongoing effort to limit the use of firearms on film sets is something I’m extremely interested in’.