Armourer Convicted of Involuntary Manslaughter in Rust Shooting Tragedy
Armourer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed has been convicted of involuntary manslaughter. The verdict, delivered after a two-week trial in Santa Fe, New Mexico, sheds new light on the events leading to the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins in October 2021.
Gutierrez-Reed, who was responsible for loading the firearm involved in the accident, was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter following the fatal shooting of Hutchins during a rehearsal for the Western film. The jury’s decision assigns new blame in the wake of an assistant director’s previous plea of no contest to negligent handling of a firearm.
The trial, which focused on Gutierrez-Reed’s actions leading up to the tragic incident, highlighted a series of safety failures on the set of Rust. Prosecutors argued that Gutierrez-Reed disregarded basic gun safety protocols, allowing live ammunition to be present on the set for an extended period before the shooting occurred. They contended that her negligence made the fatal accident foreseeable.
While Gutierrez-Reed faced a second charge of tampering with evidence, related to allegations of handing a small bag of possible narcotics to another crew member after the shooting, she was found not guilty on that count.
Immediately following the verdict, Gutierrez-Reed was placed into custody, with her lead attorney, Jason Bowles, indicating plans to appeal the conviction. The involuntary manslaughter charge carries a penalty of up to 18 months in prison and a $5,000 fine.
The trial of Gutierrez-Reed serves as a prelude to the scheduled trial of actor Alec Baldwin, who faces a charge of involuntary manslaughter for his involvement in the shooting. Baldwin, the lead actor and co-producer of Rust, was indicted by a grand jury in January and has pleaded not guilty.
The proceedings have drawn attention to safety standards within the movie industry, with prosecutors alleging systemic failures on the set of Rust. The conviction of Gutierrez-Reed marks a significant development in the pursuit of justice for Halyna Hutchins, whose tragic death has reverberated throughout the film community.
