Alec Baldwin Movie Set Armourer Found Guilty of Involuntary Manslaughter
Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the weapons handler on the set of the movie “Rust” where actor Alec Baldwin fatally shot cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter. However, she was acquitted of tampering with evidence in the tragic 2021 incident in New Mexico.
Gutierrez-Reed could face up to three years in prison following the verdict. This development may have implications for Baldwin’s upcoming manslaughter trial, as his defense team can argue that the responsibility for ensuring the weapon was safe should have been the armourer’s.
Prosecutors argued throughout the trial that Gutierrez-Reed was negligent in her handling of the firearms on set and failed to ensure that only dummy rounds were loaded. They claimed that a live round mistakenly ended up in the gun used by Baldwin during rehearsal.
Despite Gutierrez-Reed’s lack of intention to bring live bullets to the set, the prosecution argued that her actions were careless and led to a tragic outcome. The trial also revealed that Gutierrez-Reed had brought a box of live bullets from her home in California to the film set, which allegedly contributed to the presence of live rounds.
During closing arguments, Gutierrez-Reed’s defense attorney claimed that she was not solely responsible for the fatal shooting and questioned the timeline of events surrounding the live ammunition on set. He also placed some blame on Baldwin, highlighting the actor’s role as both the person holding the gun and the producer of the film.
Witness testimonies, emotional footage of the aftermath, and the impact of the tragedy on the film’s production were all discussed during the trial. The final moments of Halyna Hutchins were also shown, underscoring the devastating consequences of the shooting.
As the legal proceedings continue, the case has highlighted the importance of safety measures on film sets and the need for thorough oversight when handling weapons for movie productions. The industry has faced scrutiny over safety protocols following this tragic incident, prompting a reevaluation of practices to prevent similar accidents in the future.