Alec Baldwin fatally shoots cinematographer, injures director in prop gun mishap on set of ‘Rust’

Alec Baldwin fatally shot a cinematographer and injured a director with a prop gun on the set of the film “Rust” — and the distraught actor repeatedly asked afterwards why he was handed a “hot gun,” a firearm with real ammunition, according to authorities and an eyewitness.

The filming location at Bonanza Creek Ranch in Sante Fe, New Mexico was sent into lockdown and production was halted following the accidental double shooting around 2 p.m.

“There was an accident today on the New Mexico set of ‘Rust’ involving the misfire of a prop gun with blanks,” a production spokesperson told Deadline.

The Western drama’s director of photography, Halyna Hutchins, 42, and its director, Joel Souza, 48, were struck in the incident, according to the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office.

Hutchins was airlifted to University of New Mexico Hospital in Albuquerque and died of her injuries. Souza was being treated at Christus St. Vincent Regional Medical Center in Santa Fe, authorities said.

“Detectives are investigating how and what type of projectile was discharged,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement.

Sources told TMZ that either shrapnel or a bullet struck the two workers.

According to an eyewitness, the distressed actor kept frantically asking why he was handed a “hot gun” — a firearm with real ammunition, according to Showbiz411.

“In all my years, I’ve never been handed a hot gun,” Baldwin said repeatedly, according to the witness.

No charges were filed as of late Thursday, and detectives were still interviewing witnesses.

Baldwin was questioned by investigators, the Santa Fe New Mexican reported, and the actor was seen in tears as he spoke into a cellphone outside the sheriff’s office.

In another photo, the actor was seen bent over at the edge of a parking lot with his hands on his knees. 

“The entire cast and crew has been absolutely devastated by today’s tragedy, and we send our deepest condolences to Halyna’s family and loved ones,” the production company said in a statement to The Post. 

“We have halted production on the film for an undetermined period of time and are fully cooperating with the Santa Fe Police Department’s investigation,” the statement said.

Earlier Thursday, Baldwin — who is starring in and producing the movie — posted a photo of himself on location dressed in a Western outfit, with his shirt and coat stained with fake blood.

“Back to in person at the office,” the actor, 63, wrote in the caption. “Blimey … it’s exhausting.”

Emails seeking comment from his reps were not returned.

Hutchins’ union, meanwhile, called the news  “devastating” in a statement to its members.

“This is a terrible loss, and we mourn the passing of a member of our Guild’s family,” International Cinematographers Guild Local 600 said in the statement, which was obtained by The Post.

“The details are unclear at this moment, but we are working to learn more, and we support a full investigation into this tragic event.”

Hutchins, a 2015 graduate of the AFI Conservatory, worked on several recent films, including “Blindfire,” “Darlin’ ” and “Archenemy.”

She last posted to Instagram on Tuesday, sharing a video of herself riding a horse in the country.

“One of the perks of shooting a western is you get to ride horses on your day off,” she wrote with a smiley face emoji.

The final post was flooded with comments from people grieving her death.

“I feel like I’ve had the wind knocked out of me. You will be so missed,” one commenter said.

“Damn you were such a gem, RIP Halyna,” wrote another.

According to Hutchins’ website, she was from Ukraine, grew up in the Arctic Circle on a Soviet military base, and had a graduate degree in journalism from Kiev National University.

Before getting into film, Hutchins worked as an investigative journalist in Europe, the site says.

“Rust” began filming in New Mexico earlier this month.

Baldwin plays outlaw Harland Rust, who helps his estranged 13-year-old grandson run from the law after the teen is sentenced to hang for the accidental killing of a rancher in Kansas.

Additional reporting by Patrick Reilly