The family of late “Rust” cinematographer Halyna Hutchins is speaking out after armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in less than three hours of jury deliberation.
Although acquitted on a charge of tampering with evidence, the rookie armorer had been accused of being “sloppy” and “negligent” on the set of the Western film, which ultimately led to the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins when she was shot by a gun containing live ammunition.
Although actor Alec Baldwin, not Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, was the one holding the gun when it went off, a jury decided that her actions “significantly contributed” to Hutchins’ death. Although she has yet to be sentenced, she could be facing up to 18 months behind bars.
Halyna Hutchins’ Parents, Sister Still Seek Justice In Alec Baldwin’s Upcoming ‘Rust’ Trial
On Wednesday, a jury spent less than three hours reviewing the testimony before settling on a guilty verdict in connection with the involuntary manslaughter charge in connection with Halyna Hutchins’ death. However, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed was acquitted on a single charge of tampering with evidence.
A witness had come forward to say that Gutierrez-Reed had given her a bag of white powder on the day Hutchins was shot; however, she threw it away. The substance inside the bag was never identified as cocaine. On Tuesday, the prosecution tried to get the mention of “cocaine” replaced with “controlled white substance” on the charge; however, it was rejected by Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer, who is presiding over both “Rust” trials.
On Thursday, only one day after a jury found Hannah Gutierrez-Reed guilty of involuntary manslaughter, the parents and sister of the late “Rust” cinematographer released a statement through their attorney, Gloria Allred, who is also representing them in a civil lawsuit against Alec Baldwin and other “Rust” producers claiming negligence and lack of safety protocols on set led to the death of the esteemed cinematographer.
Halyna Hutchins’ Family Is ‘Satisfied’ With The Guilty Verdict
In a brief statement made to People magazine, family attorneys Gloria Allred and John Carpenter said, “Halyna’s parents and her sister have always wanted everyone who is responsible for Halyna’s death to be held accountable,” adding, “Today was the first trial and conviction in the criminal justice process. We are satisfied that the jury, based on the evidence, found Hannah Gutierrez-Reed guilty beyond a reasonable doubt for her part in the taking of Halyna’s life.”
They went on to say, “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.” In Wednesday’s closing arguments, prosecutor Kari Morrissey said, “The astonishing lack of diligence with regard to gun safety is without question a significant cause of the death of Halyna Hutchins,” per ABC News.
“This is not a case where Hannah Gutierrez made one mistake, and that one mistake was accidental – putting a live round into that gun,” she continued. “This case is about constant, neverending, safety failures that resulted in the death of a human being and nearly killed another.” Meanwhile, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed’s attorney, Jason Bowles, called the rookie armorer a “convenient fall person” and instead blamed Alec Baldwin and “Rust” producers.
Alec Baldwin’s Trial Will Start In July
![Police in the US have released video footage from the set of the film Rust, including of the aftermath of the fatal shooting of a cinematographer by actor Alec Baldwin. Halyna Hutchins, 42, was shot by Mr Baldwin while he rehearsed with what he believed to be a safe gun. Footage, which has no audio, released shows Baldwin dressed as a cowboy rehearsing with a gun ahead of the deadly shooting. He can be seen in stills from that video posing with the gun, and with ammo / ammunition on his costume in a scene set in a church. A clapper board with Ms Hutchins' name on it can also be seen. It's not known if the gun he is holding is the one that fired the deadly bullets. The actor, who was also a producer on the film, previously said he did not pull the trigger and had no idea how a live bullet came to be on the set near Santa Fe in the US state of New Mexico. The Santa Fe County sheriff’s office released a trove of documents released to the investigation this week. 26 Apr 2022 Pictured: Alec Baldwin seen in stills from video footage of Rust rehearsals released by investigators in the US. Photo credit: Santa Fe County Sheriff/MEGA TheMegaAgency.com +1 888 505 6342 (Mega Agency TagID: MEGA851467_005.jpg) [Photo via Mega Agency]](https://theblast.prod.media.wordpress.mattersmedia.io/2023/01/Alec_Baldwin_Rust_Charges_2.jpg)
As for right now, Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer ordered that Gutierrez-Reed be remanded into custody at the Santa Fe County Adult Detention Center. Although she faces up to 18 months behind bars, a sentencing date has yet to be set. Many are curious to see how the armorer’s guilty verdict will impact Alec Baldwin’s trial. Criminal trial attorney and “Death By Fame” expert Sara Azari told the Daily Mail last week that she believes that the “30 Rock” actor will not be found guilty by a jury.
She noted that the prosecution “clearly want to make an example out of Alec Baldwin, but you want to go after the armorer. That’s her duty. It’s protocol that the actor relies on the safety of props given to them by those who are in charge of the safety of those props and so that’s exactly what he did.”
“[At the time of the shooting] the armorer has sort of disappeared and left the gun with the second director, the second director says the prop is cold meaning that is not loaded with live rounds. And that was not true,” she continued, although it was still unclear how live ammunition ended up on the set of “Rust.”
