Hannah Gutierrez Reed, the armorer of the film 'Rust', has been sentenced to 18 months in prison by a New Mexico judge for involuntary manslaughter in the 2021 on-set fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. This sentence represents the maximum possible punishment for the crime.
During the sentencing, Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer expressed disappointment in Gutierrez Reed's lack of accountability, stating that while she apologized, she did not take full responsibility for her actions. The judge emphasized that Gutierrez Reed alone turned a safe weapon into a lethal one, resulting in the tragic loss of Halyna Hutchins.
As the armorer on set, Gutierrez Reed was entrusted with firearm safety and storage responsibilities. She is the first person to stand trial and be convicted in this high-profile case that has garnered national attention for over two years.
Prosecutors argued that Gutierrez Reed repeatedly disregarded safety protocols and failed to exercise caution in her duties, ultimately leading to the death of Halyna Hutchins. On the other hand, her defense attorney claimed that she has been unfairly blamed for the safety lapses of film set management and other crew members.
Despite the severity of the sentence, Gutierrez Reed showed no visible reaction in court and was escorted out after the announcement. The tragic incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of strict adherence to safety protocols on film sets to prevent such avoidable tragedies in the future.
