- Hannah Gutierrez-Reed was sentenced to 18 months in prison for her role in the fatal shooting of Halyna Hutchins during rehearsal on the set of the movie “Rust.”
- Experts have called the incident, which involves actor Alec Baldwin unloading rounds live, an avoidable tragedy.
- Gutiérrez-Reed was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter and her defense argued for probation, highlighting safety issues on set.
- Despite his pleas for leniency and the defense's claims for safety issues, the judge imposed the maximum sentence, emphasizing the seriousness of the crime.
- Gutierrez-Reed expressed her sadness at the media coverage and negative portrayal of her, calling Hutchins an inspiration and stating that she was not a monster but a human being who made a mistake.
Gunsmith Convicted in Rust Filming The case of Hannah Gutierrez Reed, the gunsmith in the movie “Rust,” has been a focal point of national attention, mostly because of the tragic on-set shooting that led to the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. Gutiérrez Reed was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter and sentenced to 18 months in prison, the first time a gunman has been convicted in this case. This verdict and sentence highlight the significant legal and safety failures that contributed to the incident.
During the trial, prosecutors argued that Gutierrez Reed repeatedly violated safety protocols and acted recklessly in his duties, leading to Hutchins' death. They noted that he allowed six live rounds to remain on the set without performing the necessary safety checks, including not shaking dummy rounds or testing anything. This negligence, according to the prosecution, directly contributed to the tragic incident.
Gutierrez Reed's defense attorney, Jason Bowles, countered those claims by suggesting that the production team created a chaotic and unsafe environment that put Gutierrez Reed under immense pressure. He also argued that actor Alec Baldwin, who was handling the firearm at the time of the shooting, failed to follow common sense gun safety rules and acted unpredictably. Bowles further claimed that management was responsible for the safety failures, not Gutierrez Reed.
As the first criminal trial for the tragic “Rust” shooting begins, prosecutors seek to paint Hannah Gutierrez-Reed as a drug dealer whose mistakes led to calamity. Advocates say he's a scapegoat for penny-pinching growers. Both may be true: https://t.co/alODRbdPNm pic.twitter.com/7jsleEOSpC
— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) February 14, 2024
Assistant Film Director David Halls admitted he was negligent in checking the gun and not properly inspecting all the rounds in the gun's chamber when Gutierrez Reed presented it to him. He pleaded no contest to a charge of negligent use of a deadly weapon and was sentenced to six months' probation, a $500 fine and other conditions.
The defense also tried to shift blame by suggesting that Seth Kenney, the owner of PDQ Arm & Prop and “Rust's” gun supplier, was the source of the live rounds. However, the prosecution refuted this claim, stating that the live rounds found on the set did not match the ones found in Kenney's store. This argument was part of the defense's attempt to cast doubt on the evidence and Gutierrez Reed's role in the incident.
The verdict and sentence underscore the importance of adhering to strict safety protocols in film production, particularly in the handling of firearms. Gutierrez Reed's conviction serves as a stark reminder of the potential consequences of not meeting these standards, highlighting the need for comprehensive security checks and the responsibility of all parties involved in film production to prioritize safety above all else.
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Gunsmith “Rust” convicted of involuntary manslaughter in Alec Baldwin shooting https://t.co/lBbCjnlxAJ
— Robin Pogrebin (@rpogrebin) March 7, 2024
