Movies

Hannah Gutierrez, ‘Rust’ western movie armorer, released from prison

BBG News

Hannah Gutierrez, who handled weapons on the tragic western film “Rust” where Alec Baldwin was involved in a fatal shooting incident, has been discharged from jail following a 14-month sentence for her involuntary manslaughter conviction from last year.

On Friday, Gutierrez was freed from a women’s prison in New Mexico following the completion of her term for the unintentional shooting incident involving cinematographer Halyna Hutchins in October 2021.

Gutierrez was among three individuals indicted for the fatal incident on a movie set near Santa Fe, NM, but she was the only one to be convicted of a felony. Last year, during a tense and significant two-week trial in Santa Fe, a jury found her guilty of involuntary manslaughter in relation to Hutchins’ death.

In a case brought by New Mexico authorities, an Arizona woman was criticized for carelessly managing firearms and ammunition, breaking gun safety regulations.

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In New Mexico, the prosecutors accused an Arizona woman of irresponsible gun handling and disregard for gun safety laws due to her mishandling of firearms and ammunition.

In addition, the special prosecutor pointed out that Gutierrez unknowingly carried real bullets to the well-known western movie site, Bonanza Creek Ranch, and mixed them with harmless “prop” bullets frequently used during movie productions.

Gutierrez refutes the claim, as there wasn’t enough solid proof regarding where the live ammunition came from.

In the course of a rehearsal, Baldwin aimed a firearm at Hutchins; he too was indicted. He has denied guilt in the charge of involuntary manslaughter, which pertains to the shooting incident that resulted in the death of the 42-year-old cinematographer, an up-and-coming star in the industry, and injured the movie’s director, Joel Souza.

In a recent court case last July, Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer of the New Mexico 1st Judicial District Court, who was presiding over the “Rust” criminal proceedings, dropped the charge against actor Alec Baldwin three days into his high-profile trial.

In their examination, Marlowe Sommer discovered that evidence crucial to Baldwin’s defense had been kept hidden by the prosecutor and Santa Fe County sheriff’s deputies. This undisclosed information, as ruled by the judge, biased the case against Baldwin. During this period, Baldwin’s legal team was investigating whether there were errors in the probe regarding how the bullets ended up on the film set.

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In the Baldwin involuntary manslaughter trial, the judge dropped the criminal charge upon uncovering what appeared to be a deliberate attempt to hide or withhold relevant evidence.

Assistant director David Halls was also charged in the shooting.

In an agreement, Halls admitted to using a deadly weapon negligently, resulting in a six-month jail term that was suspended, concluding in October 2023. Following this incident, he chose to retire from his profession. He consented to pay a fine of $500, attend a firearms safety course, abstain from substance abuse, and perform 24 hours of community service.

Gutierrez had received the maximum sentence for her role.

Previously, she had been granted conditional freedom due to parole. Additionally, she is being monitored under the conditions of probation following her admission of guilt for illegally carrying a gun into a Santa Fe bar that did not allow firearms. This was reported by the Associated Press, just a few days before the tragic shooting incident.

Terms of her parole include mental health assessments and a ban on firearms possession.

Gutierrez, through her attorney, declined an interview request Sunday.

During her April 2024 sentencing hearing, Gutierrez expressed that when she began working on ‘Rust,’ I was young and inexperienced, but I approached my responsibilities with all the seriousness I could muster at the time.

Hollywood Inc.

On the day of the unfortunate incident when actor Alec Baldwin accidentally discharged a firearm, striking cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, David Halls – who assisted in ‘Rust’ production – discussed this event during the trial of armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed.

Marlowe Sommer, who was also involved in the armorer’s case, imposed the harshest punishment on Gutierrez, stating: “As the armorer, you were the one responsible for ensuring a weapon remained safe. Unfortunately, it was you who transformed a harmless weapon into one capable of causing harm or even taking someone’s life.

With Gutierrez’s release, the criminal phase of the “Rust” saga has concluded.

There are still ongoing civil court cases involving Baldwin and the production team that haven’t been settled, with some being brought forward by relatives of Hutchins.

16 months following the tragic incident on set in New Mexico, Baldwin and his fellow cast and crew wrapped up filming in Montana. However, the movie didn’t hit theaters until it appeared on only a few screens nationwide.

Hollywood Inc.

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The day Alec Baldwin shot Halyna Hutchins and Joel Souza

Accounts from various team members of the “Rust” production team offer a detailed timeline of a series of questionable choices, culminating in an unruly work environment where a live bullet was accidentally inserted into a prop gun.

The October 2021 shooting incident brought attention to the importance of safety on film sets, especially those with limited budgets, by casting a stark spotlight on the issue.

On the set of “Rust,” there were numerous issues that surfaced, such as accusations concerning safety protocols and hiring inexperienced individuals like Gutierrez. It’s worth noting that “Rust” was only her second role as head armorer on this project, and she was also assigned the duties of a prop assistant.

Prior to the tragic incident, “Rust” camera team members chose to leave their positions due to safety worries and inadequate housing options around the filming location. They voiced concerns over previous unintentional gun fires that had occurred.

Gutierrez is the stepdaughter of well-known Hollywood armorer Thell Reed.

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2025-05-25 22:03

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