The family of Brandon Lee, the actor fatally shot by a prop gun 28 years ago, reacted with sadness and called for the banning of live guns on movie sets after cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was killed during the filming of the movie “Rust” on Thursday.
Lee, the son of martial arts legend Bruce Lee, died in March 1993 while filming “The Crow” in North Carolina, People reported. He was 28. Brandon Lee was killed when co-star Michael Massee fired a prop gun that contained a fragment of a bullet, the Los Angeles Times reported at the time.
Lee’s sister, Shannon Lee, said Hutchins’ death brought back painful memories for her own family.
“I have been in contact with my mom and with my brother’s fiancee,” Shannon Lee told The Hollywood Reporter. “A lot of people have been reaching out. It’s stirring up a lot of emotions — and frustration.”
Hutchins was killed and director Joel Souza was wounded when Baldwin, 63, fired a prop gun he believed was safe to use, officials said in a search warrant filed in a Santa Fe, New Mexico, court. The bullet struck Hutchins in the chest and injured Souza, who was standing behind her, in the shoulder, according to The Associated Press and KOAT.
>> Who was cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, killed by Alec Baldwin’s ‘prop gun’?
No arrests have been made and the incident remains under investigation.
Shannon Lee acknowledged that all of the details surrounding Hutchins’ death remain unclear, but added that there was no excuse for a deadly shooting accident on the movie set.
>> Alec Baldwin didn’t know gun contained live rounds before fatal shooting: warrant
“There are rules that are supposed to be followed,” Shannon Lee told The Hollywood Reporter. “I am certainly not pointing fingers at anyone because that would be the wrong thing to do. But, there is no reason for something like this to happen. My heart goes out to Alec Baldwin. I feel for the work he is going to have to do to process this and try to find some measure of peace around it. And even more so for the family of Halyna Hutchins. It’s having your whole world flip upside down. There should be compassion for all the pain everyone is going through.”
The Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office responds to the scene of a fatal accidental shooting at a Bonanza Creek Ranch movie set near Santa Fe, N.M., on Thursday, Oct. 21, 2021. Authorities say a cinematographer has been killed and a director injured Thursday after they were shot by a prop firearm on the "Rust" movie set.
The Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office responds to the scene of a fatal accidental shooting at a Bonanza Creek Ranch movie set near Santa Fe, N.M., on Thursday, Oct. 21, 2021. Authorities say a cinematographer has been killed and a director injured Thursday after they were shot by a prop firearm on the "Rust" movie set.
This aerial video image provided by KOAT 7 News shows the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office responding to the scene of a fatal accidental shooting at a Bonanza Creek Ranch movie set near Santa Fe, N.M., on Thursday, Oct. 21, 2021. Authorities say a cinematographer has been killed and a director injured Thursday after they were shot by a prop firearm on the "Rust" movie set.
An exterior view shows a lighted ’emergency’ sign near the emergency entrance to Christus St. Vincent Medical Center, where "Rust" director Joel Souza was transported, on October 21, 2021, in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Souza was injured and director of photography Halyna Hutchins was killed on set while filming the movie "Rust" at Bonanza Creek Ranch on Thursday. The film’s star and producer, Alec Baldwin, discharged a prop firearm that hit Hutchins and Souza, authorities said.
An exterior view shows the entrance to Christus St. Vincent Medical Center, where "Rust" director Joel Souza was transported, on October 21, 2021, in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Souza was injured and director of photography Halyna Hutchins was killed on set while filming the movie "Rust" at Bonanza Creek Ranch on Thursday. The film’s star and producer, Alec Baldwin, discharged a prop firearm that hit Hutchins and Souza, authorities said.
An exterior view shows a sign directing patients to the emergency entrance to Christus St. Vincent Medical Center, where "Rust" director Joel Souza was transported, on October 21, 2021, in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Souza was injured and director of photography Halyna Hutchins was killed on set while filming the movie "Rust" at Bonanza Creek Ranch on Thursday. The film’s star and producer, Alec Baldwin, discharged a prop firearm that hit Hutchins and Souza, authorities said.
An exterior view shows a sign directing patients to the emergency entrance to Christus St. Vincent Medical Center, where "Rust" director Joel Souza was transported, on October 21, 2021, in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Souza was injured and director of photography Halyna Hutchins was killed on set while filming the movie "Rust" at Bonanza Creek Ranch on Thursday. The film’s star and producer, Alec Baldwin, discharged a prop firearm that hit Hutchins and Souza, authorities said.
Authorities identified the slain victim as Halyna Hutchins, a 42-year-old cinematographer, The Associated Press reported. She is shown here in a 2019 file photo.
The film’s director, 48-year-old Joel Souza, was taken to a nearby hospital and treated for injuries, officials said. He is shown here in a 2019 file photo.
In this Sept. 21, 2015, file photo, actor Alec Baldwin attends a news conference at United Nations headquarters. A prop firearm discharged by Baldwin, who is starring and producing a Western movie, killed his director of photography and injured the director Thursday, Oct. 21, 2021, at the movie set outside Santa Fe, N.M., the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office said.
After an investigation into Brandon Lee’s death, District Attorney Jerry Spivey said no criminal charges would be filed, CNN reported. While negligence was a factor, there was no evidence of criminal wrongdoing, The New York Times reported in September 1993.
Lee’s mother, Linda Lee Cadwell, filed a civil suit against the studio for negligence, according to CNN. The case was eventually settled out of court, the Los Angeles Times reported in October 1993.
>> Alec Baldwin shooting: While rare, accidents happen on movie, TV sets; here is a list of some
Massee died in 2016. He was 64.
On Friday, Baldwin said in a statement he posted on Twitter that he was filled with “shock and sadness” over the incident and said he was working with authorities to determine what went wrong.
“There are no words to convey my shock and sadness regarding the tragic accident that took the life of Halyna Hutchins, a wife, mother and deeply admired colleague of ours,” Baldwin tweeted. “I’m fully cooperating with the police investigation to address how this tragedy occurred and I am in touch with her husband, offering my support to him and his family. My heart is broken for her husband, their son, and all who knew and loved Halyna.”
>> Alec Baldwin shooting: How can a prop gun, blanks kill?
The plot of “Rust,” hinges on an accidental killing and its aftermath, according to The New York Times. The movie set now is the scene of a real killing and investigation, the newspaper reported.
The American Film Institute set up a scholarship for women cinematographers in the wake of Hutchins’ death, Variety reported. AFI is now accepting donations for the fund, which “aims to help female cinematographers build sustainable careers in the movie business,” director and writer Olia Oparina told the website.
>> Alec Baldwin shooting: Film industry reacts after 1 killed, 1 hurt on ‘Rust’ set
Shannon Lee said real guns should be banned from movie sets.
“I think that in this day and age with all the special effects that are possible and all of the technology, there is no reason to have a prop gun or a gun on a set that can fire a projectile of any sort,” Shannon Lee told The Hollywood Reporter. “It is not necessary, and I would love to see some changes made industry-wide. My brother’s fiancee and I have been talking about it. I think we wish we had thought to do more 28 years ago, and we would love to do that now.”
>> Alec Baldwin releases first statement after prop gun incident that killed cinematographer
Shannon Lee said her family would “wholeheartedly” support a ban on real guns, but added that the rules in place must be adhered to.
“There were rules in place on ‘The Crow.’ Unfortunately, there was negligence of the rules,” Shannon Lee told The Hollywood Reporter. “I don’t want to speak to the incident on ‘Rust,’ but in Brandon’s accident, there were many rules that were not followed and corners that were cut, which lead to the tragedy on that set. It did not have to happen.”
Here are some memorable photos of actor Alec Baldwin through the years.
1985: Author Gore Vidal poses with actors that will appear in the NBC-TV miniseries "Dress Gray" on Dec. 16, 1985. Actor Alec Baldwin is at left.
1988: Geena Davis and Alec Baldwin, right, react in horror when they first encounter the demonic Betelgeuse (Michael Keaton) in the supernatural comedy "Beetlejuice," 1988.
1990: Actor Alec Baldwin, left, is shown during rehearsals at NBC’s "Saturday Night Live," with musical guests the B-52s, Keith Strickland, second from left, Kate Pierson and Fred Schneider, partially obscured, in New York on April 19, 1990.
1991: Composer John Barry stands between presenters Kim Basinger and Alec Baldwin as he holds his Oscar for best original score for the film "Dances With Wolves" backstage at the 63rd annual Academy Awards in Los Angeles on March 25, 1991.
1992: Actors Kim Basinger and Alec Baldwin appear at a special industry screening of "Final Analysis," in which she stars, in Los Angeles on Feb. 7, 1992.
1993: Actress Julie Harris, right, poses with actor Alec Baldwin, center, and actress Joan Van Ark at the gala benefit for the American Academy of Dramatic Arts at the Plaza Hotel in New York City, Sunday evening, Feb. 7, 1993.
1994: Actress Kim Basinger is shown in a June 26, 1994, photo with her husband, actor Alec Baldwin.
1995: Actor Alec Baldwin arrives for the 1995 Tony Awards at Broadway’s Minskoff Theater in New York on June 4, 1995.
1996: Al Pacino and Alec Baldwin star in "Looking for Richard."
1998: Married American actors Alec Baldwin and Kim Basinger sit at a table during the Golden Globe Awards ceremony held at the Beverly Hilton, Beverly Hills, California, on January 18, 1998.
1999: American actor Alec Baldwin and wife Kim Basinger.
2000: Actor Alec Baldwin and wife Kim Basinger arrive for the world premiere of "I Dreamed of Africa" on April 18, 2000, at Sony Theatres Lincoln Square in New York City.
2001: Actor Alec Baldwin arrives at the world premiere of Disney’s "Pearl Harbor" on May 21, 2001, in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
2002: Actor Alec Baldwin speaks to delegates having dinner at the Florida Democratic Party State Conference on April 13, 2002, in Lake Buena Vista, near Orlando, Florida.
2004: Best supporting actor winner Alec Baldwin attends the National Board of Review of Motion Pictures 2003 annual Awards Gala at Tavern on the Green January 13, 2004, in New York City.
2004: Alec Baldwin and his date attend the American Theater Wing luncheon honoring Isabelle Stevenson at the Pierre Hotel on April 19, 2004, in New York City.
2005: Actor Alec Baldwin and daughter Ireland Eliesse Baldwin arrive at PETA’s 15th Anniversary Gala and Humanitarian Awards at Paramount Studios on September 10, 2005, in Hollywood, California.
2006: Actor Alec Baldwin speaks during a segment of "The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson" at CBS Television Studios on November 3, 2006, in Los Angeles.
2007: The cast of "30 Rock" poses in the pressroom with their Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series during the 59th annual Primetime Emmy Awards at the Shrine Auditorium on September 16, 2007, in Los Angeles.
2008: Actors Tina Fey (left) and Alec Baldwin pose in the press room with their Emmys for Best Actor for "30 Rock" during the 60th Primetime Emmy Awards held at Nokia Theatre on September 21, 2008, in Los Angeles.
2009: Actor Alec Baldwin (left) and his daughter, Ireland, pose with his award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series for "30 Rock" in the press room at the 15th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards held at the Shrine Auditorium on January 25, 2009, in Los Angeles.
2010: Co-hosts Steve Martin (left) and Alec Baldwin onstage during the 82nd annual Academy Awards held at Kodak Theatre on March 7, 2010, in Hollywood, California.
2011: Hilaria Thomas (left) and Alec Baldwin attend Tony Bennett’s 85th Birthday Gala Benefit for Exploring the Arts at the Metropolitan Opera House on September 18, 2011, in New York City.
2012: Alec Baldwin (left) and Hilaria Thomas attend the 2012 Ripple of Hope Gala at the New York Marriott Marquis on December 3, 2012, in New York City.
2013: Actor Alec Baldwin and wife Hilaria Thomas arrive at the 19th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards held at the Shrine Auditorium on January 27, 2013, in Los Angeles.
2014: Alec Baldwin and Hilaria Baldwin attend the Elton John AIDS Foundation’s 13th annual An Enduring Vision Benefit at Cipriani Wall Street on October 28, 2014, in New York City.
2015: Alec Baldwin and Hilaria Thomas attend OCRF’s 18th annual Super Saturday NY Hosted by Donna Karan and Kelly Ripa on July 25, 2015, in Water Mill City.
2016: Alec Baldwin as Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump and Kate McKinnon as Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton during the "Debate Cold Open" sketch on "Saturday Night Live" on October 1, 2016.
2017: Alec Baldwin speaks onstage during the We Stand United NYC Rally outside Trump International Hotel & Tower on January 19, 2017, in New York City.
2018: Board of Directors Co-Chair Alec Baldwin, Hilaria Baldwin and their children attend the red carpet and chairman’s reception at Suna Residence during the Hamptons International Film Festival 2018 on October 6, 2018, in East Hampton, New York.
2019: Ireland Baldwin and Alec Baldwin attend the Comedy Central Roast of Alec Baldwin at Saban Theatre on September 7, 2019, in Beverly Hills, California.
2020: Alec Baldwin, Hilaria Baldwin and Carmen Baldwin pose backstage at the Badgley Mischka show during New York Fashion Week: The Shows at Gallery I at Spring Studios on February 8, 2020, in New York City.
2021: Alec Baldwin, Hilaria Baldwin and their kids attend as DreamWorks Animation presents "The Boss Baby: Family Business" world premiere at SVA Theatre on June 22, 2021, in New York City.
