Rust shooting: Halyna Hutchins’ family ‘look forward’ to more ‘justice’

The mugshot of Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, who was charged over the fatal Rust film set shooting, has been released as Halyna Hutchins’ family want “others responsible” to be held accountable.

Hannah Gutierrez-Reed’s mugshot has been released hours after the Rust armourer was jailed over her part in the shooting death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on a Hollywood movie set.

A jury found that Gutierrez-Reed was negligent in allowing a live bullet be placed into the gun that Alec Baldwin used on the set in October 2021. This resulted in the accidental shooting death of Hutchins.

Rust armourer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed’s mugshot after she received an involuntary manslaughter conviction. Picture: Supplied

The 26-year-old rookie armourer has now been seen in her mugshot from the Santa Fe County Adult Detention Facility. She is facing between 18 months and three years in prison.

It comes as Hutchins’ family released statement, saying they “look forward” to others responsible for her death facing justice – an apparent reference to Baldwin who faces trial for involuntary manslaughter in July.

Cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was killed on the set of Rust. Picture: Instagram

Baldwin will be tried in the same court and faces the same possible sentence if convicted.

“Halyna’s parents and her sister have always wanted everyone who is responsible for Halyna’s death to be held accountable,” the family’s lawyers Gloria Allred and John Carpenter said.

“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.

Hannah Gutierrez-Reed is taken into custody after the guilty verdict during her trial in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Picture: Getty Images

“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.”

Baldwin was originally charged with involuntary manslaughter but the allegations were dropped in April last year. He was charged again last month and pleaded not guilty.

Stacy Reed, mother of Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, reacts after hearing the guilty verdict during her daughter’s trial. Picture: AFP

RUST ARMOURER FOUND GUILTY

On Wednesday local time, a jury found Gutierrez-Reed guilty of involuntary manslaughter over the fatal Rust film set shooting that rocked Hollywood.

Lawyers for Gutierrez-Reed, who faces up to three years in prison, had claimed she was a scapegoat in the fatal 2021 shooting of Hutchins.

But the jury in New Mexico found the 26-year-old guilty of involuntary manslaughter and not guilty of tampering with evidence after deliberating for two-and-a-half hours.

The case centred on how a live round of ammunition ended up on the film’s New Mexico set and in the prop gun that actor and producer Alec Baldwin was holding on October 21, 2021.

Ms Hutchins, a mother of one, was tragically killed when the gun was fired and director Joel Souza was injured.

Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, former armourer on the set of the movie Rust, walks out of the courtroom during a break in her involuntary manslaughter trial. Picture: Getty Images

Baldwin is also facing involuntary manslaughter charges related to the shooting and will face trial on July 9.

Gutierrez-Reed showed little emotion as the verdict was read out, NBC News reports.

Her mother, seated behind her, put her hands on her head as the judge ordered her to be remanded into custody pending sentencing.

During the trial, prosecutors alleged Gutierrez-Reed, who pleaded not guilty, was to blame for unwittingly bringing live ammunition on to the set and that the rookie armourer flouted basic safety protocols for weapons handling.

Alec Baldwin will face court in July over the shooting. Picture: AFP

“By failing to make those vital safety checks, the defendant acted negligently and without due caution and the decisions she made that day ultimately contributed to Ms Hutchins’ death,” prosecutor Jason Lewis said during opening statements.

Her lawyers claimed their client was unfairly scapegoated for problems beyond her control, including Baldwin’s handling of the weapons.

Defence lawyer Jason Bowles told the court in New Mexico that Gutierrez-Reed became the “convenient fall person” in the shooting.

Rookie armourer Hannah Gutierrez Reed on the set of Rust. Picture: Facebook

Hannah Gutierrez-Reed said she was “still learning” in her role as an armourer. Picture: Facebook

He said prosecutors had not proved beyond a reasonable doubt that Ms Gutierrez-Reed was responsible for bringing live rounds onto the set and alleged that Baldwin was ultimately responsible for Hutchins’ death.

“That’s what happened in this case,” he said. “You had a production company on a shoestring budget, an A-list actor (Baldwin) calling all the shots. In the end, they had someone they could all blame.”

In his closing arguments, Mr Bowles said: “Justice for Halyna does not mean injustice for Hannah. It does not mean they get to steamroll her and get to spin their version of facts and call it truth. Because that’s not true.”

During the prosecution’s closing arguments, Kari Morrissey outlined what she believed were the various safety failures that led to the on-set tragedy.

Alec Baldwin on the set of Rust after the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. Picture: AFP

“This case is about constant, never-ending safety failures that resulted in the death of a human being and nearly killed another,” Ms Morrissey said.

She went on to detail the differences in appearance between the dummy rounds and the live rounds.

“Which of these is not like the other?” Ms Morrissey asked.

Ms Morrissey said that Gutierrez-Reed had brought onto set leftover dummies from another movie that were provided by her father Thell Reed, who is a veteran Hollywood armourer.

Hannah Gutierrez-Reed in court. Picture: Getty Images

“I’m not telling you Hannah Gutierrez-Reed intended to bring live rounds on set,” Ms Morrissey said.

“She was negligent, she was careless, she was thoughtless,” Ms Morrissey said.

Prosecutors earlier described Ms Hutchins’ lethal injuries in graphic detail and said Gutierrez-Reed was only worried about her career.

“That bullet went into (Ms Hutchins’) body, went through her rib, severed her spinal cord, punctured her lung, came out the back of her shoulder and a few hours later, Ms Gutierrez is … worried about her career,” she said referring to comments made by the armourer just hours after the shooting.

Jurors heard from more than 30 witnesses during the trial and watched videos of body camera footage from the day of the shooting.

In one of those clips, Gutierrez-Reed told a Santa Fe County Sheriff corporal that live ammunition was never kept on set and she had checked the “dummy” rounds the morning before the shooting.

“Dummy” rounds refer to ammunition that resembles actual bullets but contains no explosive elements.

Originally published as Rust shooting: Halyna Hutchins’ family ‘look forward’ to more ‘justice’