Antonio Velasco Gutierrez

Biography

A prolific extra in the Mexico's lucrative "videohome," direct-to-video film industry, actor Antonio Valasco Gutierrez made national news when he was shot to death on a film set by a gun that, although it was thought to contain blanks, had, in fact, been loaded with real bullets. A resident of the impoverished municipality of Ixtapaluca, located just outside of Mexico City, Gutierrez often portrayed henchmen in violent, low-production value actioners dealing with drug dealers and organized crime. The gun that shot Gutierrez was fired by the film's star Flavio Peniche, who claimed that he simply fired the gun handed to him for the scene. Although other crew members were also questioned, authorities ultimately failed to locate the film's property master, known only by his nickname "the Brush." It appeared as if "the Brush" had fled the scene following the incident. Meanwhile, Peniche was charged with negligent homicide, although Mexico's National Association of Actors later stated that it would aid him in any legal proceedings. Antonio Valasco Gutierrez was 42. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi