Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, a movie weapons armorer, has been sentenced to 18 months in jail, the maximum penalty for involuntary manslaughter, in connection with the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins by actor Alec Baldwin on the set of the Western movie “Rust.”
The incident occurred in October 2021 when Baldwin, who was also a co-producer of the film, pointed a gun at Hutchins during a rehearsal, and the gun discharged, killing her and injuring director Joel Souza.
A New Mexico judge determined that Gutierrez-Reed’s recklessness constituted a serious violent offense and noted a lack of genuine remorse from the defendant since her conviction in March. Prosecutors hold Gutierrez-Reed responsible for inadvertently bringing live ammunition onto the set, where it was strictly prohibited, and for not adhering to basic gun-safety protocols.
The focus now shifts to Baldwin’s upcoming trial on a charge of involuntary manslaughter. Baldwin has pleaded not guilty, claiming that he pulled back the hammer but not the trigger, and the gun fired on its own.
At the sentencing hearing, friends and family members described Hutchins, who was 42 at the time of her death, as a courageous, tenacious, and compassionate person. They called for justice and a punishment that would promote greater safety accountability on film sets.
Ukrainian relatives of Hutchins are seeking damages from Baldwin in connection with the shooting. The family supports the criminal prosecution of the actor, according to their attorney, Gloria Allred.
Defense attorneys for Baldwin are urging the judge to dismiss the grand jury indictment, accusing prosecutors of unfairly influencing the proceedings. Special prosecutors deny these accusations and point to contradictions in Baldwin’s statements to law enforcement, workplace safety regulators, and the public.
Gutierrez-Reed plans to appeal the judge’s judgment and sentence against her, according to her defense attorney Jason Bowles. The armorer’s legal team has stated that there were multiple system failures by various individuals, some of whom have yet to face the court.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.