Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the armorer on the set of the western film Rust, was “likely hungover” when she loaded a live bullet into a prop gun, alleges prosecutors in the ongoing case regarding the fatal shooting of a cinematographer on set.
Halyna Hutchins lost her life after receiving a gunshot wound from a gun held by actor Alec Baldwin back in the fall of 2021. Baldwin alleges both Gutierrez-Reed and assistant director Dave Halls failed to inspect the weapon properly before giving it to the actor, according to CNN. Now, Gutierrez-Reed faces a manslaughter charge.
According to the filing made by prosecutors Friday, they claim witnesses are lined up to testify Gutierrez-Reed was “drinking heavily and smoking marijuana in the evening during the shooting of Rust.” What’s more, prosecutors claim she carries a history of “reckless conduct.”
An attorney for Gutierrez-Reed, Jason Bowles, released his own statement claiming the prosecution was merely seeking a “convenient scapegoat,” according to NBC News. What’s more, prosecutors said in their statement that further investigation into the state of the gun itself could affect how they handle any charges against Baldwin.
Though Baldwin’s involuntary manslaughter charge was dismissed back in April, that was based on the premise of “new facts” that the gun had been malfunctioning. However, if it is determined that the gun was not malfunctioning, Baldwin may face charges after all. As the prosecutors explained in their filing:
“[A] possible malfunction of the gun significantly effects causation with regard to Baldwin, not with regard to Gutierrez. […] If it is determined that the gun did not malfunction, charges against Mr. Baldwin will proceed.”
As for Gutierrez-Reed and Halls, they have both claimed via their respective attorneys that Baldwin laying the blame on them is merely him passing the responsibility onto others instead of taking responsibility himself. It still remains a mystery how exactly the live rounds made it onto the set in the first place, prosecutors said, though the investigation remains ongoing. The fatal shooting in question occurred on Oct. 21, 2021, at Bonanza Creek Ranch in New Mexico, an incident in which director Joel Souza was also non-fatally wounded.
The filing from prosecutors Friday was a direct reaction to Gutierrez-Reed’s attempt to dismiss the involuntary manslaughter charge. Even though Gutierrez-Reed’s attorneys claimed she was being charged for “political motivations,” prosecutors maintained she was “appropriately prosecuted” due to her gun safety duties on set. As the prosecution explained in the filing:
“It is likely that Defendant Gutierrez was hungover when she inserted a live bullet into a gun that she knew was going to be used at some point by an actor while filming a shooting scene with other actors and crew members. […] All Defendant Gutierrez needed to do was shake every bullet and make sure it rattled before putting it in the gun — she failed and killed someone.”
Bowles told NBC News, in response: “The prosecution has so mishandled this case and the case is so weak that they are now resorting to character assassination tactics to further taint the jury pool.” Among Bowles’ claims is that the FBI damaged the gun permanently before the defense could inspect it, allegedly resulting in “destruction of evidence and a violation of the court’s rules of discovery,” according to the Associated Press.
Remarkably, the production of Rust is actually continuing as part of a wrongful death lawsuit settlement filed against Baldwin by Hutchins’ family. As CNN explained:
“As part of the agreement, the movie was to be completed with Hutchins’ widower, Matthew Hutchins, serving as an executive producer, according to an October statement from him.”
Back in April, Rust picked up filming where it left off, this time moving the production location to Montana.