'Rust' Shooting: Armorer Hanna Gutierrez-Reed Convicted
The Facts
A jury Wednesday found Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the weapons handler who gave actor Alec Baldwin the loaded gun that killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the "Rust" movie set in 2021, guilty of involuntary manslaughter.
Since Gutierrez-Reed's trial began on Feb. 21, the jury has heard from weapons experts, members of the movie crew, and FBI authorities, among others. She now faces a $5k fine and up to 18 months in prison.
The Spin
Narrative A
While Hannah Gutierrez-Reed was likely not the only one at fault here, her prosecution and conviction are completely reasonable given that all weapons and ammunition were her responsibility. Besides, it's not as if she's a scapegoat since Baldwin will face his own trial and could end up being convicted. Several of those who were reckless in handling the weapon have already faced the consequences or are about to.
Narrative B
This case is not as cut-and-dry as some are making it out to be. Not only was Gutierrez-Reed in charge of weapons, but due to budget cuts, the production team put her in charge of props as well. She was, therefore, one person covering what should have been handled by two people. Further, texts and emails show the production team repeatedly ignored her requests for more attention on weapon safety and training for Baldwin. She's being punished for the willful neglect of the movie executives.
