Pictured: Movie director who survived being accidentally shot by Alec Baldwin, with his arm in a sling

• Joel Souza, 48, was standing directly behind cinematographer Halyna Hutchins
• He was hit by the same bullet, accidentally shot by Alec Baldwin, that killed her
• Bullet removed from Mr Souza’s shoulder and is expected to make a full recovery
• Friends said the movie director has been left ‘devastated’ by the tragic accident

The director who survived being accidentally shot by Alec Baldwin on the set of his new movie has been photographed for the first time, with his arm in a sling.

Joel Souza, 48, was standing directly behind cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, 42, and was hit by the same bullet that killed her.

Last night, a sombre Mr Souza was seen outside his home in Palo Alto, California, as friends described his ‘devastation’. 

Devastated: Joel Souza, 48, the director who survived being accidentally shot by Alec Baldwin on the set of his new movie has been photographed for the first time, with his arm in a sling

One said: ‘Joel is in pieces. He was standing right behind Halyna. They were both looking into the camera monitor as Alec fired the gun straight at them. He is utterly devastated.’

The bullet pierced mother-of-one Ms Hutchins’ chest on the set of the low-budget Western Rust. She died after being airlifted to a hospital in Albuquerque, New Mexico, a half-hour flight from remote Bonanza Creek Ranch where the £4.5 million movie was being filmed.

The bullet was removed from Mr Souza’s shoulder during surgery. He spent a night in hospital and is expected to make a full recovery.

Mr Souza was standing directly behind cinematographer Halyna Hutchins (pictured) and was hit by the same bullet that killed her on October 21 as they filmed upcoming movie Rust in Santa Fe, New Mexico

Victim: The bullet pierced mother-of-one Ms Hutchins’ chest on the set of the low-budget Western Rust. She died after being airlifted to a hospital and leaves behind a son, nine

The investigation into Ms Hutchins’s death on October 21 continues, with police saying they have not ruled out bringing criminal charges.

Mr Baldwin was handed the .45 vintage Colt revolver by assistant director Dave Halls who shouted ‘cold gun’, the Hollywood term for an unloaded, ‘safe’ weapon. But it contained a live bullet.

A distraught Mr Baldwin was photographed weeping and doubled over in shock moments after the accident and told sheriffs: ‘I had no idea the gun was hot’ (loaded).

Yesterday, the 61-year-old spoke in public about the incident for the first time, saying he was cooperating with police and speaking to them every day.

Alec Baldwin is pictured sobbing after shooting and killing cinematographer Halyna Hutchins  A distraught Mr Baldwin was photographed weeping and doubled over in shock moments after the accident and told sheriffs: ‘I had no idea the gun was hot’ (loaded)

‘It’s an active investigation,’ he told photographers. ‘A woman died, she was my friend. We were a very, very well-oiled crew shooting a film together, and then this horrible event happened.’

Speaking of the cinematographer’s husband Matthew, Mr Baldwin said: ‘He is in shock, he has a nine-year-old son. We are in constant contact with him because we are very worried about his family and his kid.’

When asked if he’d work on a set with firearms again, the actor said he ‘couldn’t answer that question… I do know that an ongoing effort to limit the use of firearms on film sets is something I’m extremely interested in’.

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