Armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed was sentenced to 18 months in prison for involuntary manslaughter. She was responsible for gun safety on the set of the western “Rust” with leading actor Alec Baldwin when a camerawoman was fatally injured. The court in Santa Fe (US state of New Mexico) announced the sentence. This is the maximum penalty.
Before the announcement, the public prosecutor had asked the judge to impose the full sentence. The defense tried to have the sentence suspended.
Gutierrez-Reed was convicted by a jury in Santa Fe court in early March. The incident occurred in October 2021 on the set of the western “Rust” with Alec Baldwin as the main actor and co-producer of the film. During rehearsals at Bonanza Creek Ranch, 42-year-old camerawoman Halyna Hutchins was fatally injured when a shot fired from a prop gun being operated by Baldwin. Director Joel Souza was hit in the shoulder by the same bullet.
The young armorer had loaded the revolver, which was then handed to Baldwin. A trial against the 66-year-old Hollywood star for negligent homicide is scheduled for July. Both had repeatedly denied blame for the incident.
