'Rust' armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed convicted of manslaughter

A jury convicted Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the weapons supervisor on "Rust," of involuntary manslaughter

(Image credit: Luis Sánchez Saturno - Pool/Getty Images)

published 7 March 2024

What happened?

A jury in Santa Fe on Wednesday convicted Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the weapons supervisor on the New Mexico set of "Rust," of involuntary manslaughter for the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins in October 2021. Hutchins was shot by actor Alec Baldwin during rehearsal. The jury acquitted Gutierrez-Reed, 26, of evidence tampering.

Gutierrez-Reed, who allegedly brought live ammunition on the set, showed an "astonishing lack of diligence," prosecutor Kari Morrissey said in closing arguments. "This was a game of Russian roulette every time an actor had a gun with dummies." Defense lawyer Jason Bowles said Baldwin and "Rust" producers made Gutierrez-Reed a "scapegoat" because she was "the least powerful person" on the chaotic, low-budget set. Juror Alberto Sanchez said the armorer's job was "to check those rounds and those firearms," and she failed.

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.