On Wednesday, a jury convicted “Rust” armorer Hannah Gutierrez Reed of involuntary manslaughter in the 2021 death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. The trial, which started February 21, included testimonies from weapons experts, FBI and Santa Fe County officials, and crew members. The incident occurred when actor Alec Baldwin discharged a live bullet from a gun managed by Gutierrez Reed on the film set.
Gutierrez Reed, however, was acquitted of evidence tampering, a charge stemming from allegations of disposing a bag of cocaine on the day . After less than three hours of deliberation in a New Mexico court, Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer ordered immediate custody for Gutierrez Reed until sentencing. She faces a potential sentence of up to 18 months in prison and a $5,000 fine.
The prosecution argued Gutierrez Reed failed in her duties as an armorer, neglecting to adequately manage Baldwin’s handling of the firearms. Her defense team, however, maintained that insufficient evidence was presented for a manslaughter conviction, highlighting external factors beyond her control contributing to the shooting.
Director Joel Souza, who was also injured in the incident, recalled the chaotic moment of the shooting during his testimony. The fatal shot occurred as Hutchins and Souza were setting up a scene inside a church at Bonanza Creek Ranch, with the loud discharge differing markedly from typical on-set blank rounds.
