The weapons handler, who loaded Alec Baldwin’s gun on the set of Rust before it fired and killed a cinematographer, has been found guilty for her death.
In October 2021, Baldwin was rehearsing on the Rust movie set in New Mexico with a gun that was not supposed to contain live ammunition.
However, the actor’s gun suddenly fired a live round, killing Rust’s cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and injuring the western film’s director Joel Souza.
On Wednesday, a New Mexico grand jury found Rust’s armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed guilty of involuntary manslaughter in the death of Hutchins.
Gutierrez-Reed was found not guilty of a second charge — tampering with evidence over the 2021 shooting of Halyna Hutchins on the set of Rust.
She was taken into custody immediately where she awaits sentencing, facing up to 18 months in prison and a $5,000 fine.
What Does This Mean for Alec Baldwin?
Gutierrez-Reed was responsible for ensuring that all firearms on the Rust movie set were safe. During the trial, prosecutors alleged that the armorer loaded a fully functioning .45 revolver used by Baldwin with dummy rounds and at least one live round.
However, Gutierrez-Reed had pleaded not guilty and her attorneys argued that she was being used as a scapegoat in the incident — which they claimed Baldwin was ultimately responsible for.
Baldwin has also been charged with involuntary manslaughter and is accused of causing Hutchins’s death either by negligence or “total disregard or indifference” for safety.
The actor has pleaded not guilty and will face his own trial in July.
Gutierrez-Reed’s conviction gives Baldwin and his legal team insight into how his own trial for Hutchins’ death could unfold.
The actor’s trial will involve the same judge and prosecutors as well as many of the same witnesses. Baldwin has maintained that he pulled back the gun’s hammer, but not the trigger, and the weapon fired, killing Hutchins and wounding director Souza.
In a statement, Hutchins’ family say they are “satisfied” with Gutierrez-Reed’s verdict.
“We look forward to the justice system continuing to make sure that everyone else who is responsible for Halyna’s death is required to face the legal consequences for their actions,” the cinematographer’s family adds in the statement.