March 11, 2024
A jury in New Mexico has found Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the armorer for the film Rust, guilty of involuntary manslaughter. During the criminal trial, prosecutors successfully argued that her negligence and recklessness led to the death of the film’s cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, in 2021. By K Dass.
Mexico - A jury has found Hannah
Gutierrez-Reed, an armourer on the movie set of Rust, guilty of
involuntary manslaughter. However, she was not found guilty of tampering with
evidence in the fatal on-set shooting of Halyna Hutchins. Gutierrez-Reed, who
was responsible for ensuring the safety of firearms on the set, loaded a gun
for actor Alec Baldwin before it fired and killed the movie’s cinematographer.
The tragic
incident occurred during a rehearsal for the neo-western film. Baldwin, who
also served as a co-producer, was pointing a prop gun at Hutchins when the
weapon discharged, fatally wounding her and injuring the film’s director, Joel
Souza. Prosecutors alleged that Gutierrez-Reed loaded a fully functioning .45
revolver used by Baldwin with dummy rounds and at least one live round. They
described her actions as negligent, careless, and thoughtless, emphasizing the
constant safety failures on the film set and her astonishing lack of diligence
with gun safety. Gutierrez-Reed now faces up to three years in prison.
Baldwin
himself has been charged with involuntary manslaughter and will face trial in
July. The case highlights the importance of safety protocols and accountability
when handling weapons on film sets. It’s a sobering reminder that even in the
world of make-believe, real consequences can occur when safety measures are
overlooked.