In Santa Fe, New Mexico, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, a movie armorer linked to the tragic shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins by Alec Baldwin on the “Rust” set, has been released from prison after serving an 18-month sentence. She left the Western New Mexico Correctional Facility in Grants and returned to her home in Bullhead City, Arizona, under parole conditions relating to her conviction for involuntary manslaughter concerning the 2021 incident.
In addition to parole, Gutierrez-Reed is on probation after pleading guilty to another charge of unlawfully carrying a firearm into a licensed liquor establishment. The incident occurred before the filming of “Rust” commenced, when she carried a gun into a downtown Santa Fe bar, violating regulations prohibiting firearms.
The shooting took place during a rehearsal on a movie set outside Santa Fe, where Baldwin, both lead actor and coproducer of “Rust,” had pointed a gun at Hutchins, leading to her death and injuring director Joel Souza. Gutierrez-Reed was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter by a jury in March 2024 but maintains an appeal against this conviction. Although she was acquitted of tampering with evidence in the ongoing investigation, prosecutors argued that she had inadvertently introduced live ammunition onto the set and neglected essential gun safety protocols.
The terms of her parole are strict, including mandatory mental health evaluations and a ban on owning or possessing firearms. Meanwhile, an initial charge of involuntary manslaughter against Alec Baldwin was dropped during the trial following accusations that law enforcement and prosecution had withheld evidence crucial to his defense.
The production of “Rust” wrapped up in Montana, and the Western film has made its way to theaters this month.