A judge has upheld the involuntary manslaughter conviction of movie armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed in the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the movie “Rust,” involving actor Alec Baldwin. The incident occurred during a rehearsal on the Western film set outside Santa Fe in October 2021.
In a recent court ruling, Armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed’s request to dismiss her conviction or hold a new trial was rejected by a New Mexico judge. Gutierrez-Reed alleged misconduct and suppression of evidence by law enforcement officials. This decision comes after Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer had previously stopped Baldwin’s trial in July due to misconduct and evidence withholding by authorities involved in the case.
Gutierrez-Reed was convicted by a jury in March and subsequently sentenced to the maximum 18-month penalty. She has an appeal of her conviction pending in a higher court. The prosecution blamed Gutierrez-Reed for inadvertently introducing live ammunition onto the set of “Rust” and failing to adhere to essential gun safety procedures.
Despite being acquitted of evidence tampering charges related to the “Rust” investigation, Gutierrez-Reed is also facing a separate felony charge for allegedly carrying a gun into a Santa Fe bar where firearms are prohibited. A proposed plea deal is awaiting court approval in this matter.
The tragic incident took place when Baldwin, who was both the lead actor and co-producer of “Rust,” was handed a gun he believed to be safe and pointed it at Halyna Hutchins during a scene rehearsal. The weapon discharged, resulting in the death of Hutchins and the injury of director Joel Souza. Gutierrez-Reed’s legal team argued that the prosecution failed to disclose potentially exculpatory evidence during the trial, thus calling for a reevaluation of her case.
As the legal proceedings continue, the repercussions of the fatal shooting on the “Rust” set linger, prompting reflection and scrutiny on the safety protocols and responsibilities within the entertainment industry.