On Wednesday, a New Mexico jury found “Rust” armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed guilty of involuntary manslaughter but not guilty of tampering with evidence after deliberating for about two and a half hours.
Hannah Gutierrez-Reed is facing up to three years in state prison
The 26-year-old is facing up to three years in state prison and will be sentenced later. A judge ordered Gutierrez-Reed to be detained and held until her sentencing.
Gutierrez-Reed remained calm as the jury foreperson read the verdicts. Before being taken into custody by a deputy, she removed her necklace. Her mother, seated behind her, placed her hands on her head and bent forward as the judge ordered her remanded in custody until sentencing.
The nearly two-week criminal trial focused on the 2021 shooting on the “Rust” film set, in which actor Alec Baldwin used a prop gun to fire a live round of ammunition, killing Haylna Hutchins, the film’s cinematographer. The bullet also injured director Joel Souza.
Special prosecutor Kari T. Morrissey told the jury during the prosecution’s closing arguments on Wednesday that Gutierrez-Reed “was negligent, she was careless, she was thoughtless.”
Alec Baldwin is set to face his manslaughter trial in July
Morrissey also stated that after the fatal shooting, the 27-year-old armorer was more “worried about her career” than about the victims.
However, Gutierrez-Reed’s attorney, Jason Bowles, claimed that the prosecutors had not proven beyond a reasonable doubt that Gutierrez-Reed was responsible for bringing live rounds onto the set, and that Baldwin was ultimately responsible for Hutchins’ death.
“I submit to you what caused her death is Mr. Baldwin going off script. No one ever knew there would be a live round on set. The only act is the pointing of the weapon. Ms Gutierrez didn’t point that weapon,” Bowles said.
The prosecution also referred to Baldwin as a “prima donna.”
“Alec Baldwin’s conduct and his lack of gun safety in the church that day is something he’s going to have to answer for … Not with you not today, that’s for another jury for another day.”
Alec Baldwin is set to face his manslaughter trial in July