Hollywood A-lister Alec Baldwin has broken his silence on the accidental shooting that left a cinematographer dead on the set of his forthcoming film 'Rust'.
Taking to Twitter, the actor expressed his "shock and sadness" at the tragedy and said that he was fully cooperating with a police investigation.
The actor said he was in touch with the husband of the deceased, Halyna Hutchins, and has offered his support to her family.
The 63-year-old actor released his statement shortly after it was reported that a union which covers prop masters had sent a memo to its members early Friday, saying “a single live round was accidentally fired on set by the principal actor".
The accident happened on a film set in New Mexico when Baldwin fired a pistol that was supposed to be loaded with blank cartridges. The film's director, Joel Souza, was injured in the collarbone, and Hutchins was seriously wounded and was airlifted to a hospital in Albuquerque. She was later pronounced dead.
According to an eyewitness, after the accident, the actor repeatedly asked why he had been given a "hot gun", and was weeping.
The Santa Fe sheriff's office said that no charges have been filed and they are investigating the shooting and interviewing witnesses.
"The investigation remains open and active," the sheriff's office said in a statement.