![Debra Messing Backs Alec Baldwin After Shocking Accidental Shooting On Set](https://theblast.prod.media.wordpress.mattersmedia.io/brand-img/123/0x0/2021/10/mega604859_013-scaled-e1634922040558.jpg?)
Debra Messing Backs Alec Baldwin After Shocking Accidental Shooting On Set
By Fiyin Olowokandi on October 24, 2021 at 5:30 AM EDT
We all need a shoulder to lean on in our darkest hours. Debra Messing got that memo as she stood up for her friend Alec Baldwin who is in troubled waters over an accidental shooting.
This unfortunate incident happened on the set of Baldwin's new movie "Rust" when he fired a prop gun that mistakenly shot and killed a cinematographer.
Columnist Benny Johnson had implied that the wrong headline had been moving around about the shooting incident when he wrote, "This is the accurate headline fyi," at the end of a tweet that read,
"BREAKING: Alec Baldwin kills person with gun, criminal investigation underway."
Like many other commenters, Messing didn't agree with Johnson's tweet. The "Along Came Polly" star moved to register her opinion about the situation in support of her friend Baldwin.
![Debra Messing at the Naeem Khan F/W 2019 Fashion Show](https://theblast.prod.media.wordpress.mattersmedia.io/brand-img/123/0x0/2021/09/MEGA358648_001.jpg?)
Messing tweeted that Johnson's claim about the headline was absolutely not true. She wrote that a prop gun was handed to Baldwin which he used in the scene. The "Will & Grace" star then concluded with,
"Then, a catastrophic event happened where Halyna Hutchins lost her life and Joel Souza was injured. I am praying for all of their families.”
The Blast had previously reported that a woman, now identified as Director of Photography Halyna Hutchins, was killed on set after a prop incident.
New Mexico authorities shut down the film production, pending further investigations. Police say that a type of projectile emerged from the gun and struck a man and woman [Hutchins and Souza].
The Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office confirmed Hutchins was airlifted to UNMH where she succumbed to her injuries and passed away, shortly after arriving at the hospital.
42-year-old Souza remains hospitalized at Christus St. Vincent Regional Medical facility where he was immediately transported via ambulance and treated for his wounds.
In a painful ironic moment, Baldwin shared a picture of himself in a bloody shirt, holding a bloody coat before the shoot, in a deleted Instagram post.
That seems to be the scene the actor was shooting before his mishap occurred.
![Debra Messing Backs Alec Baldwin After Shocking Accidental Shooting On Set](https://theblast.prod.media.wordpress.mattersmedia.io/brand-img/123/0x0/2021/10/mega275085_008-scaled.jpg?)
![Debra Messing Backs Alec Baldwin After Shocking Accidental Shooting On Set](https://theblast.prod.media.wordpress.mattersmedia.io/brand-img/123/0x0/2021/10/mega275085_008-scaled.jpg?)
HollywoodLife reported that Baldwin has not given any statements regarding the incident but was photographed shortly after it happened on set.
The outlet revealed that the actor appeared distraught. In one photo, he was seen taking a phone call, presumably with his legal representative.
In the other image, the 63-year old bent over to the ground placing both hands on his knees, looking defeated.
Local police said “Detectives are investigating how [the prop firearm was used] and what type of projectile was discharged,” while the Sheriff’s Office called the situation an active investigation.
The outlet revealed a statement from a spokesperson for Rust Movie Productions LLC stating that film productions have been halted indefinitely and they are fully cooperating with local police investigations.
The representative added that they will be offering counseling services to all those connected to the film while they work to process the tragic event.