Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the armorer on the set of the film “Rust,” has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in the killing of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. Prosecutors are seeking the maximum penalty of 18 months in state prison. Following her conviction, she has been held in police custody pending her sentencing. Gutierrez-Reed was also charged with tampering with evidence but was found not guilty. In recorded jail phone conversations, she expressed frustration with the jurors and claimed she would not testify in Alec Baldwin’s upcoming criminal trial if subpoenaed, stating that she wants him to go to jail as well.
The criminal trial revolved around the shooting on the set of “Rust” in 2021, when a prop gun held by Alec Baldwin fired a live round of ammunition, killing cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and injuring director Joel Souza. Gutierrez-Reed’s attorney argued that the prosecutors failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that she was responsible for bringing live rounds onto the set. Instead, he claimed that Baldwin was ultimately responsible for Hutchins’ death, stating that the fatal act was the result of Baldwin going off-script and pointing the weapon. He emphasized that Gutierrez-Reed did not handle the weapon and did not pull the trigger.
The trial highlighted the negligence and carelessness on the part of Gutierrez-Reed, according to the special prosecutor. She was accused of being thoughtless in her handling of the prop guns on set, ultimately leading to the tragic shooting incident. Gutierrez-Reed’s actions were scrutinized throughout the trial, with the prosecution painting her as a key figure in the chain of events that resulted in the death of Halyna Hutchins. The jury deliberated for a significant amount of time before reaching a verdict, which Gutierrez-Reed expressed frustration with in her jail phone conversations.
In the aftermath of the shooting on the “Rust” set, the film industry faced scrutiny and calls for increased safety measures on sets involving firearms. The incident raised questions about the protocols in place for handling weapons on set and sparked conversations about accountability in such situations. The tragic death of Halyna Hutchins shed light on the potentially deadly consequences of lax safety standards and negligence in the film industry, prompting calls for stricter enforcement of safety regulations to prevent similar incidents in the future. The sentencing of Hannah Gutierrez-Reed will serve as a reminder of the importance of upholding safety measures in all aspects of filmmaking to protect the lives of those involved.
