Brandon Lee was killed in 1993 by a prop gun on the set of The Crow
The family of the late actor Brandon Bruce Lee, who was fatally wounded by a prop gun on the set of The Crow, has paid tribute to Halyna Hutchins who died during a seemingly similar accident, and have said “no one should ever be killed by a gun on a film set”.
Hutchins died after an accident in New Mexico on Thursday after Alec Baldwin accidentally fired a prop gun on a film set for the upcoming western, ‘Rust’.
The director of photography for the film was taken to hospital, but later died from her injuries, the BBC reports. The film’s director, Joel Souza, was also injured but has since been released from hospital.
Writing on Twitter, on Friday, Lee’s family said: “Our hearts go out to the family of Halyna Hutchins and to Joel Souza and all involved in the incident on ‘Rust’. No one should ever be killed by a gun on a film set. Period.”
Our hearts go out to the family of Halyna Hutchins and to Joel Souza and all involved in the incident on “Rust”. No one should ever be killed by a gun on a film set. Period. 💔
— Brandon Bruce Lee (@brandonblee) October 22, 2021
Lee, the son of martial artist and actor Bruce Lee, had filmed nearly all of his scenes for The Crow when he was fatally wounded aged 28 on set by a prop gun on 31 March, 1993.
The tragedy occurred when Lee was filming a scene that saw his character, Eric Draven, get shot by Michael Massee’s character.
The scene involved ‘Funboy’ shooting Eric when he entered the room using a .44 Magnum Smith & Wesson revolver from a distance of 3-4 meters.
The eery similarities between the deaths have not been lost on film fans.
https://twitter.com/namuspanda/status/1451404384554864660
How is this even still happening after the tragic Brandon Lee death? https://t.co/WrhoWjbDU3
— chris evans (@chris_notcapn) October 22, 2021
Both Lee and his late father died prior to the release of the breakthrough film.
The Santa Fe sheriff’s department said it was called to the Bonanza Creek Ranch movie set of the western ‘Rust’ when a “991 caller reported a shooting on the set”.
“The sheriff’s office confirms that two individuals were shot on the set of Rust. Halyna Hutchins, 42, director of photography and Joel Souza, 48, director, were shot when a prop firearm was discharged by Alec Baldwin, 63, producer and actor.”
The investigation remains open, and no charges have been filed at the time of writing, the sheriff’s office said.
Cinematographers Guild’s National President, John Lindley, and National Executive Director, Rebecca Rhine said: “We received the devastating news this evening, that one of our members, Halyna Hutchins, the Director of Photography on a production called Rust in New Mexico died from injuries sustained on the set…
“This is a terrible loss, and we mourn the passing of a member of our Guild’s family.”
Related links
Alec Baldwin shoots dead crew member on set with prop gun
