Alec Baldwin addresses "one in a trillion" tragic Halyna Hutchins shooting

American actor Alec Baldwin has spoken out about the fatal shooting which led to the death of the director of photography Halyna Hutchins on October 21st.

"There are incidental accidents on film sets, but nothing like this. This a one in a trillion episode," the actor said to a number of reporters who intercepted him in Manchester, Vermont. It is the first time Baldwin has spoken about the incident outside of a brief statement released on Twitter the day after the incident.

The actor was unable to go into any detail about the shooting that took place on the set of the movie Rust, which Baldwin was both producing and starring in. The incident remains an ongoing investigation.

"It's an active investigation. A woman died," Baldwin said. "She was my friend. The day I arrived in Santa Fe and started shooting, I took her to dinner with Joel the director. We were a very well oiled crew shooting a film together and then this horrible event happened."

Baldwin stated that he has met with Hutchins's husband and is in constant contact with the family. When asked if he would ever be involved with another set that involved firearms the star said he did not know.

"I do know that an ongoing effort to limit the use of firearms on film sets is something I am extremely interested in," the actor added.  "But remember something that I think is important: how many bullets have been fired in films and tv shows over the last 75 years?  Billions. And nearly all of them without incident."

"What happens now is that we have to realise that when it does go wrong some new measures have to take place. Prop guns, plastic guns, no live rounds on set. But that's not for me to decide. It's urgent for you to understand that I'm not an expert on this field."

The actor finished off the impromptu interview by asking the reporters to leave him and his family alone, stating that his kids were in the car crying because of the incessant pursuit by the media. Finally, he stated that he is actively cooperating with the Santa Fe's sheriff department and is communicating with them daily.

The statement comes after it has been confirmed by crew members that Baldwin was assured the Colt .45 involved in the deadly shooting was 'cold' - meaning it did not hold any live ammunition. Assistant director Dave Halls - the man who handed Baldwin the gun - was previously fired from another production over gun safety violations.