Hannah Gutierrez Reed, the armorer convicted in the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the movie 'Rust,' is set to be sentenced on April 15. The judge's ruling comes after a jury in Santa Fe, N.M., found Gutierrez Reed guilty of involuntary manslaughter following a two-week trial.
Prosecutors argued that Gutierrez Reed's negligence resulted in significant safety failures on set. As the armorer, she was responsible for handling firearms and inadvertently loaded a live bullet into Alec Baldwin's vintage Colt revolver. The firearm discharged, tragically killing Hutchins and injuring the film's director, Joel Souza.
Baldwin, who has denied pulling the trigger, is also facing his own criminal trial for involuntary manslaughter scheduled for July. Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer ordered Gutierrez Reed to be taken into custody immediately after the verdict, emphasizing the gravity of the case by stating, 'It's a death.'
Gutierrez Reed is currently being held at the Santa Fe County Adult Detention Facility. The jury acquitted her of a separate charge of tampering with evidence, which could have added additional time to her sentence.
Special prosecutor Kari Morrissey expressed her intention to consult with the victims, including the Hutchins family and Joel Souza, to determine the appropriate sentence recommendation for the court. Before the trial, Morrissey had offered leniency to Gutierrez Reed in exchange for a guilty plea and acceptance of responsibility for bringing live rounds to the set. However, Gutierrez Reed declined the offer, maintaining her innocence.
Gutierrez Reed's attorney, Jason Bowles, has announced plans to appeal the verdict. Santa Fe District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies assured supporters that the pursuit of justice in this case is ongoing, stating, 'The journey is not over. There is more to do to ensure that justice is served and those responsible for Halyna's tragic death are held accountable.'
