Alec Baldwin's niece Hailey Bieber is 'absolutely heartbroken' over cinematographer Halyna Hutchins' accidental death on Rust movie set

• On Thursday afternoon Alec Baldwin, 63, accidentally shot and killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, 42, on the set of upcoming film Rust 
• Baldwin fired a prop gun that ejected a 'projectile' which hit Hutchins and writer-director Joel Souza
• Hutchins was taken to hospital by air ambulance after the 1:50pm shooting, but was pronounced dead shortly after
• Souza, 48, was also wounded and taken to hospital but has since been released
• Baldwin reportedly asked why he was handed a 'hot gun' after the shooting, which typically means a gun loaded with real ammunition 
• The film's production company and others on set insist the gun was loaded with blanks - which can still be lethal if fired in close proximity 
• Friday morning Baldwin tweeted that he is 'fully cooperating' with the police investigation and is 'shocked' 

One day after her uncle Alec Baldwin accidentally shot and killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on set of his Western film Rust, Hailey Bieber took to Instagram to comment on the tragedy.

In a post shared with her 38.8 million followers, the 24-year-old supermodel said she is 'absolutely heartbroken' over Hutchins' untimely death. 

'Sending all my love to the family of Halyna Hutchins. This is a truly unimaginable and devastating tragedy,' she started the note.

'My thoughts are also with Joel Souza as he recovers. I am absolutely heartbroken for everyone involved,' she said in white letters against a black background. 

Bieber joined a growing list of celebrities who have offered condolences in the midst of the unthinkable accident.

On Thursday night her father, Stephen Baldwin, requested prayers via Instagram.

'Asking for your prayers tonight friends not much can be said other than please pray for all involved in the wake of this tragic accident thank you,' wrote Stephen, 55, a devout Christian.

In his caption he cited Psalm 91 which reads in part: 'I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.' 

Alec's eldest daughter and cousin to Bieber, Ireland Baldwin, 25, wrote on her Insta Stories on Friday: 'My love and support go to Halnya Hutchins' family and friends [sic]. Sending healing thoughts to Joel Souza. And wishing I could hug my dad extra tight today.' 

Alec allegedly repeatedly asked 'why was I handed a hot gun?' after Thursday's horrifying incident. 

Hutchins died shortly after being shot by Baldwin around 1:50pm at Bonanza Creek Ranch, near the city of Santa Fe in New Mexico. 

Joel Souza, the film's director, was also hurt and spent several hours in hospital, but was released later the same evening. 

A spokesman for the movie's production company has insisted that only blanks were used, but the sheriff's department has yet to confirm that. It's unclear if this was the first and only shot Baldwin fired, or if others had been fired safely. 

The tragedy is reminiscent of the 1993 accident on the set of The Crow, when Bruce Lee's son Brandon was shot and killed by a fellow actor.

The film crew in that accident thought the gun was loaded with dummy bullets and blanks, but an autopsy revealed Lee had a .44 caliber bullet lodged in his spine. Investigators in that shooting also probed the theory that a dummy cartridge got stuck in the barrel before the second was fired - a known hazard in shooting which can cause serious injuries or death when the second round is fired.