Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the armorer on the set of the movie “Rust,” has been convicted of manslaughter charges in connection with the shooting that resulted in the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and injury of director Joel Souza. In recorded jail phone conversations, Gutierrez-Reed referred to the jurors as “idiots” and “a–holes” for their quick deliberation and expressed a desire for actor Alec Baldwin, who was handling the gun that fired the fatal shot, to also go to jail. Prosecutors are seeking the maximum penalty of 18 months in prison for Gutierrez-Reed, citing her failure to accept responsibility for her actions.
The trial focused on Gutierrez-Reed’s role in the tragic shooting on the “Rust” film set in 2021, during which Baldwin held a prop gun that fired a live round. Prosecutors revealed that Gutierrez-Reed wants Baldwin to face consequences as well and has stated that she will not testify at his upcoming trial if she is subpoenaed. Furthermore, Gutierrez-Reed has shown a lack of remorse and has complained about the negative impact on her life and career without expressing genuine regret.
Prosecutors assert that Gutierrez-Reed brought live rounds on set by neglecting to properly inspect the dummy rounds she provided and failing to check the rounds that turned out to be live ammo in one actor’s gun belt and Baldwin’s revolver. Additionally, Gutierrez-Reed has another felony charge pending for allegedly concealing a firearm from security in a New Mexico bar. Her conduct has raised concerns about her responsibility and accountability, as well as her attitude towards the gravity of the situation.
In jail calls, Gutierrez-Reed discussed various topics, including her preferences for tap water and hard jail beds and opinions about the food. She also mentioned feeling targeted due to being a “pretty little white ass” in jail and criticized witnesses during her trial for allegedly lying. Gutierrez-Reed expressed frustration towards the producers of the movie and accused first assistant director Dave Halls of betraying her to protect himself.
Dave Halls, who served as the film’s safety coordinator and admitted to not thoroughly checking the gun involved in the shooting, entered a no contest plea to negligent use of a deadly weapon and received probation as part of a plea deal. Meanwhile, Baldwin’s defense has raised concerns about the fairness of the proceedings and efforts to dismiss manslaughter charges against him. Prosecutors rescinded a plea deal offer to Baldwin after learning of his plans to create a documentary with case witnesses, leading to his scheduled trial in July.
