Armourer who handed gun to Alec Baldwin found guilty over fatal movie set shooting

Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the armourer who handed actor Alec Baldwin a gun on the set of Rust , was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in the accidental shooting death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins

‘Rust’ firearms supplier tells armourer’s manslaughter trial he never provided live rounds

A jury has found Hannah Gutierrez-Reed guilty of involuntary manslaughter in connection to the accidental 2021 shooting death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.

The armourer who gave Alec Baldwin a gun on the set of the doomed movie Rust did not take the stand in her own defence during the trial, which lasted nearly two weeks.

The jury deliberated for 2.5 hours before delivering the verdict on Wednesday. She was found not guilty of evidence tampering.

Gutierrez-Reed did not react as the verdicts were read out, but appeared to be in disbelief when the judge ordered she be taken into custody.

Loved ones and supporters gathered in the Santa Fe courtroom were visibly upset. Her sentencing was set for April, but an exact date is to be determined. She faces up to 18 months in prison.

Actor and producer Alec Baldwin is also facing involuntary manslaughter charges related to the shooting. His trial will begin on 9 July.

Prosecutors said Gutierrez-Reed is to blame for unwittingly bringing live ammunition on set and that she flouted basic safety protocols for weapons handling.

The defence said she was unfairly scapegoated for problems beyond her control, including Mr Baldwin’s handling of the weapons.

Key Points

• Hannah Gutierrez-Reed guilty of involuntary manslaughter
• Judge orders Hannah-Gutierrez Reed to be taken into custody
• Defence calls Hannah Gutierrez-Reed the ‘convenient fall person’
• Witness shocks court by pointing unloaded gun at judge
• When is Alec Baldwin’s trial?

[7 March 2024 12:00 · Mike Bedigan]

Juror says Gutierrez-Reed guilty verdict was ‘fair'

Juror Alberto Sanchez said that he believed the decision to find Hannah Gutierrez-Reed guilty on the charge of involuntary manslaughter was “fair”.

Speaking outside the court following the verdict, Mr Sanchez explained how the jury had reached its verdict in the trial in less than three hours.

“There were a lot of safety issues, she could have paused, stopped and cleared it up,” he said. “[She] never did the safety checks...if you’d have done that this would not have happened.”

Asked how he felt about the decision he replied: “I think it was fair and... someone died, I mean, you gotta take responsibility, especially when you’re handling weapons and you’re in charge of those, that’s your job.

“And lack of experience or whatver you want to call it, you took the job.”

[7 March 2024 13:00 · Mike Bedigan]

When is Alec Baldwin’s trial?

The trial of Alec Baldwin, who is facing manslaughter charges in the shooting death of “Rust” cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, will begin on 9 July with jury selection.

Opening statements by special prosecutors and the actor’s defense attorneys will take place the following day, and proceedings are expected to last eight days.

Baldwin, the lead actor and a co-producer on the film, pleaded not guilty in January, the day before he was scheduled to be arraigned.

A grand jury had indicted him after prosecutors received a new analysis of the revolver he was using during filming, renewing a charge that prosecutors originally filed and then dismissed in April 2023.

(Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office)

[7 March 2024 14:00 · Mike Bedigan]

ICYMI: ‘Rust’ armorer found guilty of manslaughter in fatal shooting of cinematographer

Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the armourer who gave Alec Baldwin a gun on the set of the doomed movie Rust has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in connection to the accidental 2021 shooting death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.

Gutierrez-Reed, 26, did not take the stand in her own defence during the trial, which lasted nearly two weeks.

She was also charged with evidence tampering, but was found not guilty on this charge.

Read more here:

[7 March 2024 15:00 · Andrea Cavallier]

Halyna Hutchins’ family responds to conviction of Hannah Gutierrez-Reed

The family of Rust cinematographer Halyna Hutchins welcomed the manslaughter conviction of movie armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed in her fatal shooting by actor Alec Baldwin.

The parents and sister of the late cinematographer said they “always wanted everyone who is responsible for Halyna’s death to be held accountable”.

“Today was the first trial and conviction in the criminal justice process,” said Hutchins’ parents, Olga Solovey and Anatolli Androsovych, and her sister, Svetlana Zemko, in a statement issued through their attorney.

“We are satisfied that the jury, based on the evidence, found Hannah Gutierrez-Reed guilty beyond a reasonable doubt for her part in the taking of Halyna’s life.

‌”We look forward to the justice system continuing to make sure that everyone else who is responsible for Halyna’s death is required to face the legal consequences for their actions,” they said, according to their lawyers Gloria Allred and John Carpenter.

[7 March 2024 16:00 · Andrea Cavallier]

Here’s what the Rust verdict means for Alec Baldwin’s upcoming trial

The trial and conviction of a movie armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed in connection with a fatal shooting on the set of the Western movie Rust has given Alec Baldwin and his legal team a window into how his own trial in the death could unfold.

Gutierrez-Reed was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter and now faces up to 18 months in prison.

Baldwin figured prominently in testimony and closing arguments over two weeks that highlighted his authority as a co-producer and the lead actor on “Rust.”

Both the prosecution and defense in Gutierrez-Reed’s trial dissected video footage of Baldwin before the fatal shooting for clues about breakdowns in firearms safety.

Baldwin’s trial is set for 9 July and will involve the same judge and prosecutors as well as many of the same witnesses.

[7 March 2024 17:00 · Andrea Cavallier]

What to know about Rust shooting case as attention turns to Alec Baldwin’s trial

Now that jurors in New Mexico have convicted a movie weapons supervisor of involuntary manslaughter in the fatal shooting of a cinematographer by Alec Baldwin on the set of the Western film “Rust,” attention will turn to the actor’s own trial.

Here’s what we know: