Rust weapons supervisor found guilty over fatal shooting on Alec Baldwin film set

Hannah Gutierrez, pictured during the trial, was in charge of weapons on the Rust set.

The Rust weapons supervisor has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in the tragic shooting incident that claimed the life of the film's cinematographer in New Mexico. Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, who was responsible for weapons on the set, was acquitted of evidence tampering.

During the production of the Western film in October 2021, a firearm discharged by actor Alec Baldwin during a rehearsal resulted in the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and injuries to director Joel Souza. Involuntary manslaughter, as defined, signifies causing someone's death due to negligence, without intent.

Halyna Hutchins

Following a 10-day trial in Santa Fe, New Mexico, jurors reached their verdict after hearing testimonies from numerous witnesses, including eyewitnesses, FBI analysts, an ammunition supplier to Rust, and Joel Souza. Souza described the shooting as "deafening" and likened the impact to being struck by a baseball bat.

Evidence presented during the trial included footage of Baldwin handling the weapon before the fatal incident. Initially charged in January 2023, Baldwin was later cleared when it emerged that modifications to the revolver's hammer might have enabled it to discharge without trigger action. He faced renewed charges in January of the current year and pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter, with his trial scheduled for July.

Alec Baldwin pictured on the set of Rust

Baldwin maintained that he had only pulled back the gun's hammer, not the trigger, leading to the discharge. Production of Rust resumed in Montana, with Baldwin continuing his role, following an agreement that made Halyna Hutchins' widower an executive producer.

In Gutierrez-Reed's defense, her lawyer, Jason Bowles, argued that she was unfairly targeted as a "scapegoat" in the aftermath of the tragedy. He emphasized that while the incident was undoubtedly tragic, it did not necessarily constitute a criminal act.

Assistant director David Halls, who previously entered a plea bargain for negligent use of a deadly weapon, provided emotional testimony during Gutierrez-Reed's trial. He admitted negligence in properly inspecting the firearm and recalled Gutierrez-Reed showing him what he believed to be dummy rounds, though he did not recall her fully demonstrating all six rounds in the gun cylinder.

David Halls was the assistant director for Rust.

Halls conceded that he allowed the safety check to pass and recounted Gutierrez-Reed handing the gun to Baldwin. He also recounted his proximity to Halyna Hutchins when the fatal shot was fired, recalling her distressing words: "I can't feel my legs."

Expressing his disbelief at the live round being discharged, Halls struggled to reconcile the incident with his understanding, stating, "it wasn't computing" to him.