The fatal shot from actor Alec Baldwin's prop weapon at a camerawoman on the set of a western film continues to be a mystery.

There are still open questions about the exact circumstances of the incident in the US state of New Mexico and the fatal projectile, the police said on Friday evening.

The "New York Times" quoted from a police report that an assistant director on the set of the western "Rust" had handed over a so-called prop weapon to Baldwin with the note that it did not contain live ammunition. But when the actor fired the gun on Thursday, the tragedy broke out: the 42-year-old camerawoman Halyna Hutchins suffered fatal injuries, director Joel Souza (48) was also hit and taken to hospital with a shoulder injury. He could later be released, as US media reported.

"There are no words to express the shock and sadness at the tragic accident that ended Halyna Hutchins' life," wrote Baldwin on Twitter on Friday. She was "wife, mother and deeply admired colleague of ours" at the same time. “I am fully cooperating with the police investigation to find out how this tragedy came about. And I am in contact with her husband to offer my support to him and his family. ”The thought of“ her husband, her son and all those who knew and loved Halyna ”breaks his heart.

Baldwin has already been questioned by the police.

"He made statements and answered questions," said Santa Fe Sheriff's spokesman, Juan Rios.

“He came voluntarily and left the building after completing his interview.

No charges were brought and no arrests were made. ”The Santa Fe New Mexican newspaper published pictures of a shocked Baldwin in the sheriff's parking lot.

The newspaper reported that its reporter saw the actor in tears.

Investigators searched the film set.

In addition to the gun and the cartridge cases, they also confiscated the clothing Baldwin was wearing at the time of the accident.

According to the police, no criminal charges have been made so far.

The shooting has been suspended until further notice.

Security protocols are said not to have been strictly followed

The shooting of the low-budget western "Rust", on which Baldwin also worked as a producer, had begun at the Bonanza Creek Ranch in early October.

Numerous films have already been produced on the site near a former gold rush town in the New Mexico desert.

According to a report in the Los Angeles Times on Friday, employees on the set complained about a lack of safety precautions and poor conditions such as long working hours.

The newspaper reported, citing unnamed sources, that several employees of the camera crew had left the location a few hours before the fatal incident in protest of the working conditions.

Hollywood security protocols were not strictly followed, it said.

At least one employee is said to have complained about the lack of safety precautions when handling weapons on the set. There were already two misfires with a film gun on Saturday. "There should have been an investigation afterwards," said a crew member, according to the Los Angeles Times. “There were no safety briefings. There was no certainty that it would not happen again. They just wanted to hurry, hurry, hurry. ”A colleague was so alarmed about the misfire that he sent a text message to a production manager. “We have now had three accidental discharges. That is super insecure, "it said in a message that the" Los Angeles Times "has received. The production company said they had received no complaints but announced an extensive review.

According to the newspaper, a prop master or a licensed armorer is usually responsible for the weapons used on the set.

Its tasks also include loading them with blank cartridges and explaining how to use them to the actors and assistant directors.

Live ammunition is prohibited on the set.