By Katie Herzog, CNN
An aspiring actor and bodybuilder was “intentionally” shot and killed by a fellow actor on the set of an upcoming film starring Ferrell, McFarlane, Cardenas, Sagal and Bowen, Inglewood Police Detective David Zipperman said Friday.
Harrison Brown, 39, called 911 Monday morning after he said he was fired by director Eli Roth, Zipperman said, noting that Roth’s publicist said she had not fired Brown because the decision was made by Brown and not Roth.
“I think that is a completely false statement,” Zipperman said Friday. “He is supposed to have received a memo from Roth about not shooting.”
The Los Angeles County coroner’s office said Brown’s body was not found by firefighters at the scene, the Los Angeles Times reported.
In an email, said to be from Roth to Brown on Monday, Roth alleged that Brown had damaged equipment and yelled in production meetings, according to the Times.
“Somebody has to stand up for the artistic integrity of this movie,” Roth wrote in the email, according to the Times. “Everyone involved should be aware of this before you cross me, including the actors.”
The Times said Brown made two other unsuccessful requests for new assignments before he was fired, and Roth’s manager told the Times Roth does not cast people who do not show up for work.
Inglewood police were called to the Corywood Courtyard and Gardens area of Inglewood, California, on Monday about an apparent shooting in a commercial area, a Los Angeles County Fire Department public information officer said. The incident was reported around 1:15 a.m.
“As we’ve all heard, Hollywood is a rough business and a working actor is not a dime a dozen,” Roth said in a statement Friday. “On behalf of myself, Drew, and everyone associated with ‘Death Wish,’ I can only say how sorry I am and how heavy our hearts are today.”
The official Death Wish press release did not indicate any involvement by Roth, who co-directed, wrote and produced the film.
Police are looking into the nature of Brown’s role on the film as well as whether it related to his employment with Grauman’s Chinese Theatre Presents the annual Chinese New Year parade.
A statement from the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists said several employees were involved with the Death Wish production and that no members of AFTRA were among the deaths.
“While it is unknown if this tragic event had any connection to the group, we offer our deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their lives,” the statement said.
The National Association of Theatre Owners said in a statement that it was saddened by the death.
“Movie theatre owners honor and respect all actors as well as their families, and industry-wide we extend our deepest sympathies to the families of the victims,” the Nato-owners said.
Filming on Death Wish ended Friday and the movie is scheduled to be released in September.
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