Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, April 1, 1993 TAG: 9304010250
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WILMINGTON, N.C. LENGTH: Medium
ACTOR BRANDON LEE KILLED DURING MOVIE SHOOTING
Actor Brandon Lee, son of martial arts movie legend Bruce Lee who died at age 32, was killed Wednesday by a projectile believed to have come from a gun on the set of the movie he was starring in.Lee, 28, was struck in the abdomen when a gun rigged to shoot blanks fired. He died at New Hanover Regional Medical Center, where he had undergone surgery, said center spokeswoman Cathy Painter. Lee died nearly 12 hours after being brought to the emergency ward, she said.
Dr. Warren W. McMurry, the surgeon, said the intestinal injuries and major vascular injuries were consistent with a bullet wound. "I felt that that was what we were most likely dealing with," he said.
The entry wound was about the size of a silver dollar and the injury extended in a straight line to the spine, McMurry said. X-rays showed a metallic object lodged against the spine. An autopsy was expected to be conducted today.
Police said Lee was carrying a grocery bag that contained a small explosive charge, used to simulate gunfire, during the filming of a scene. But McMurry said he saw no signs of injuries that might have been associated with an explosion.
The actor was starring in "The Crow," an action-adventure film based on an adult comic book of the same name. He was playing a rock star who is murdered by a gang, then comes back to life with supernatural powers to avenge his death and reunite with his fiancee.
Executive producer Bob Rosen said Lee was standing about 20 feet from the gun when it was fired.
Police were investigating Wednesday's shooting, though they classified it as accidental.
When a blank is fired, a piece of soft wadding normally comes out of the gun, not a projectile, Rosen said. "I've never heard of anything like this before. I don't know how it got in there," he said.
Filming in Wilmington began Feb. 1 and was to end next week.
Keywords:
NEWSOBIT