Hannah Gutierrez Released from Prison
Introduction to the Case
Hannah Gutierrez, the weapons handler in the ill-fated Alec Baldwin western movie “Rust,” has been released from prison after serving 14 months for her conviction last year of involuntary manslaughter. Gutierrez was released Friday from a New Mexico women’s prison after completing her sentence in the accidental shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins in October 2021.
The Charges and Conviction
Gutierrez was one of three people charged in Hutchins’ death on the movie set south of Santa Fe, N.M., but the only one who received a felony conviction. A jury found her guilty of involuntary manslaughter in Hutchins’ death following a dramatic two-week trial last year in Santa Fe. New Mexico prosecutors faulted the Arizona woman for reckless handling of firearms and ammunition in violation of gun safety rules.
The Incident and Investigation
The special prosecutor also argued that Gutierrez had unwittingly brought the live bullets with her to the popular western film location, Bonanza Creek Ranch, and mingled them with inert “dummy” bullets used on film sets. Gutierrez has denied that allegation. There was no conclusive evidence presented about the origins of the live bullets.
Other Individuals Involved
Actor Alec Baldwin during his 2024 trial in Santa Fe for his role in the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.
(Ramsay de Give / Associated Press)
Baldwin, who pointed the gun at Hutchins during a rehearsal, also was charged. He pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter for the shooting that killed the 42-year-old cinematographer, a rising star in the industry, and wounded the film’s director, Joel Souza.
Judicial Proceedings and Outcomes
The New Mexico judge overseeing the “Rust” criminal prosecutions, New Mexico 1st Judicial District Court Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer, dismissed the charge against Baldwin three days into his high-profile trial last July. Marlowe Sommer found the prosecutor and Santa Fe County sheriff’s deputies had concealed evidence from Baldwin’s legal team, which the judge said prejudiced the case against Baldwin. At the time, the actor-producer’s team was exploring whether prosecutors and sheriff’s deputies botched the investigation into how the bullets made their way onto the set.
Other Charges and Sentences
Assistant director David Halls was also charged in the shooting. Halls pleaded no contest to negligent use of a deadly weapon and received a suspended six-month sentence, which ended in October 2023. Halls, who has since retired from the industry, agreed to pay a $500 fine, participate in a firearms safety class, refrain from taking drugs or alcohol and complete 24 hours of community service.
Gutierrez’s Sentence and Release
Gutierrez had received the maximum sentence for her role. She was released on parole. She also is being supervised under terms of probation after pleading guilty to a separate charge of unlawfully carrying a gun into a Santa Fe bar that prohibited firearms a few days before the fatal shooting, according to the Associated Press. Terms of her parole include mental health assessments and a ban on firearms possession.
Reflections and Aftermath
Gutierrez, through her attorney, declined an interview request Sunday. “When I took on ‘Rust,’ I was young and I was naive but I took my job as seriously as I knew how to,” Gutierrez told the judge during her April 2024 sentencing hearing. Marlowe Sommer, who also presided over the armorer’s case, gave Gutierrez the maximum sentence, saying: “You were the armorer, the one that stood between a safe weapon and a weapon that could kill someone. .. You alone turned a safe weapon into a lethal weapon.”
Conclusion
With Gutierrez’s release, the criminal phase of the “Rust” saga has concluded. Several civil lawsuits against Baldwin and the producers, including from Hutchins’ family members, remain unresolved. Baldwin and other actors and crew members finished filming in Montana, 18 months after the fatal shooting in New Mexico. The movie was finally released in the U.S. this month on just a handful of screens. The October 2021 shooting shined a harsh light on film set safety, particularly on low-budget productions.
FAQs
Q: Who was Hannah Gutierrez?
A: Hannah Gutierrez was the weapons handler in the Alec Baldwin western movie “Rust.”
Q: What was Gutierrez convicted of?
A: Gutierrez was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.
Q: How long did Gutierrez serve in prison?
A: Gutierrez served 14 months in prison.
Q: What were the terms of her parole?
A: The terms of her parole include mental health assessments and a ban on firearms possession.
Q: What is the current status of the civil lawsuits related to the incident?
A: Several civil lawsuits against Baldwin and the producers, including from Hutchins’ family members, remain unresolved.
