Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the armorer for the film ‘Rust,’ has been sentenced to 18 months in prison for the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins by actor Alec Baldwin.
RELATED: Rust Armorer Claims She Was Led To Believe That She Loaded The Gun With Dummy Rounds
As we previously shared, in 2021, during a scene rehearsal, Alec Baldwin, the main actor in ‘Rust,’ pointed what was supposed to be an unloaded (prop) gun toward the camera. When the weapon went off, a live bullet struck and killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and wounded director Joel Souza.
Following the incident, there have been tons of questions, speculation, and theories over who is responsible for loading the gun with live ammunition, which ultimately resulted in death. Last month, a jury in New Mexico ultimately faulted the armorer on set, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, for the fatal shooting of Halyna Hutchins by Alec Baldwin.
RELATED: Alec Baldwin Speaks On Halyna Hutchins’ Death And ‘Rust’ Shooting: ‘She Was My Friend’
In early March, Gutierrez-Reed was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter. During the criminal trial, prosecutors successfully argued that the armor’s negligence and recklessness resulted in the direct death of the film’s cinematographer. During closing arguments, special prosecutor Kari T. Morrissey said, “This is not a case where Hannah Gutierrez made one mistake This case is about constant, never-ending safety failures that resulted in the death of a human being and nearly killed another.”
Morrissey continued, “This was a game of Russian roulette every time an actor had a gun with dummies.” She noted that despite Baldwin holding the gun when it went off, “It is her job to say to an A-list actor, ‘Hey, you can’t behave that way with those firearms.'” Prosecutors also presented evidence attempting to prove that after the shooting, the ‘Rust‘ armorer handed another crew member a small bag of possible narcotics.
RELATED: Halyna Hutchins’ Final Words Revealed After Being Accidentally Shot By Alec Baldwin On ‘Rust’ Set
In addition to the film’s armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed being blamed for the fatal shooting of Halyna Hutchins, the film’s main actor Alec Baldwin was also later faulted in the tragic incident. The actor maintains that the bullet was fired without him pulling the trigger and has pleaded not guilty to charges of involuntary manslaughter. Baldwin’s criminal trial is scheduled to begin on July 9.
Ahead of Baldwin’s trial, Gutierrez-Reed has now been sentenced to the maximum penalty of 18 months in prison in Santa Fe, New Mexico. On Monday (April 15), the judge called out Gutierrez-Reed’s lack of remorse, claiming, “Your attorney had to tell the court you were remorseful.” After the sentencing, the judge added, “You were the armorer who stood between a safe weapon and a weapon that could kill someone. For you, she would be alive.”
Additionally, special prosecutor Kari T. Morrissey said the prosecutors “respect the judge’s decision,” adding, “It’s been a difficult case…But taking responsibility I think is critical in the criminal justice system and that was something that unfortunately was lacking from Miss Gutierrez.”
Morrissey also said that jail calls made by Gutierrez-Reed “tell us who she really is” and that she does not take responsibility for Hutchins’ death. Morrissey also said that Gutierrez-Reed “chooses to place blame on the witnesses that testified against her.”
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