Alec Baldwin says 'heart is broken' after fatally shooting cinematographer

'Rust' director Joel Souza was transported to Christus St. Vincent Medical Center

US actor Alec Baldwin, seen here in New York on October 07, 2021, has been interviewed by detectives over the deadly shooting

Hollywood star Alec Baldwin said Friday his "heart is broken" after he fatally shot a cinematographer with a prop gun he had been told was safe on the set of a Western about an accidental killing. 

The US actor and producer said he was "fully cooperating" with a police investigation, as law enforcement officials carried out a search warrant, and reports emerged of allegedly dangerous working conditions on the set.

Baldwin had been handed a prop gun by an assistant director who did not know it was loaded and shouted "Cold gun" -- meaning it contained no live ammunition -- according to a search warrant seen by the Santa Fe Reporter.

"My heart is broken for her husband, their son, and all who knew and loved Halyna," wrote Baldwin.

Santa Fe sheriff spokesman Juan Rios told AFP that Baldwin came in voluntarily and "provided statements and answered their questions," but no charges have been filed and no arrests made.

The warrant allows investigators to gather camera footage, cellphones, weapons and ammunition, and clothing worn by Baldwin and others which may have been splattered with blood, according the affidavit.

There had been at least three prop gun misfires prior to the fatal accident, the LA Times report said, citing anonymous crew members who were on set.

- Shot on set -

Ukraine's foreign ministry said its consulate general in San Francisco was working with US authorities and speaking to Hutchins' relatives.

"Creating a culture of safety requires relentless vigilance from every one of us, day in and day out," it added.

Movie sets usually have stringent rules over the use of prop weapons, but accidents have happened.

Brandon's sister Shannon Lee wrote on Twitter: "No one should ever be killed by a gun on a film set."

But "the problem with dummy weapons is that you take away the recoil and the smoke, which adds something to the acting," said Hollywood armorer Guillaume Delouche.

Meanwhile, tributes to Hutchins poured in on social media.

"My heart goes out to all of those affected by the tragedy today on Rust, especially Halyna Hutchins & her family."

Baldwin co-produced the film and stars as Harland Rust, an outlaw whose grandson is convicted of murder, and who goes on the run with him.

He garnered new fans for TV comedy "30 Rock" and with his long-running portrayal of Donald Trump on "Saturday Night Live," a character that irritated the former president.

He lives near New York with second wife Hilaria. The couple have six children together.

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