Actor Alec Baldwin says that the fatal shooting of a cinematograph with a prop gun on the set of the movie “Rust” was a tragic accident.

Many questions remain about how and why the New Mexico ranch movie set became the scene of a deadly shooting. Cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was killed when investigators say Baldwin fired the prop on set on Thursday. Hutchins was killed and director Joel Souza was injured. Baldwin stars in the film and is a producer.

“It’s so easily preventable in my point of view, that it really is a tragedy,” says Brian Dettling.

Dettling is the owner of Stage Armament Solutions, a company based in the Washington, D.C. area that rents replica firearms for theatre and film productions. He is also an actor.

He says that actual guns modified to not shoot projectiles are often used in big-budget films for realism. He says that many safeguards are in place. But he says accidents do happen.

“It doesn’t have to shoot a projectile or bullet to be dangerous,” he says. “When you fire the blank cartridge it’ll produce quite a bit of hot gas and velocity coming out of the front of the weapon.”

Baldwin tweeted on Friday that he is cooperating with the investigation, adding, “…my heart is broken for [Hutchins’] husband, their son and all who knew and loved Halyna.”

Baldwin was questioned by police in Santa Fe following the incident. He was not charged.

Production on “Rust” has been paused indefinitely.