Hannah Gutierrez-Reed gets emotional after she was sentenced by a judge to 18 months behind bars following a fatal shooting on set of Alec Baldwin's western movie.
- Apr 15, 2024
AceShowbiz - Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the armorer for the film "Rust," was sentenced to 18 months in prison for involuntary manslaughter in the 2021 on-set fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. The maximum sentence was handed down by Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer at a hearing Monday, April 15.
Joel Souza, the "Rust" director and screenwriter who was also injured in the shooting, spoke of the devastating loss of Hutchins. He described her as a "great talent" who left an immeasurable void in the lives of her loved ones.
"One day the world made sense, and the next day it didn't, and it still doesn't, and I'm not sure it ever will again," Souza said.
Friends and family of Hutchins, including her mother, Olga Solovey, expressed their heartbreak and the ongoing pain caused by her death.
Gutierrez-Reed spoke to the court, expressing her condolences and acknowledging Hutchins' inspiration. She stated that she took her job seriously but recognized her role in this preventable tragedy.
"I beg you, please, don't give me more time," she pleaded. "I'm not a monster, I'm human."
Despite her apology, Judge Sommer found that Gutierrez-Reed's actions constituted a serious violent offense. The prosecution cited her lack of remorse and alleged that she failed to take responsibility for her actions.
Gutierrez-Reed's defense team argued that she was scapegoated for the safety failures of others on the "Rust" set. They emphasized Gutierrez-Reed's lack of prior experience and the chaotic conditions she faced.
Emilia Mendieta, a friend of Hutchins, criticized the broader industry failures that contributed to the tragedy. She argued that holding Gutierrez-Reed accountable would send a message that compromising workplace safety, even unintentionally, has consequences.
"Why was there a live bullet on set?" she asked. "That is where Hannah Gutierrez-Reed failed Halyna."
Alec Baldwin, who was holding the gun that fired the fatal shot, has also been charged with involuntary manslaughter. His trial is set for July.
The shooting on the "Rust" set occurred during a rehearsal in October 2021. Six live rounds were reportedly discovered on the set, raising questions about the safety protocols followed.
Gutierrez-Reed was the primary person responsible for firearm safety on the set. She was originally charged with a second felony count for evidence tampering but was acquitted.
