The Rust film armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, was convicted of involuntary manslaughter by a Santa Fe, New Mexico jury, marking a significant moment in the tragic death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. 

The verdict came after more than two years of investigations and legal proceedings following the incident on the film set. After deliberating for two and a half hours, the jury found Gutierrez-Reed guilty while clearing her of evidence tampering charges. 

The 26-year-old armorer maintained composure as the verdict was announced in a courtroom filled with anticipation. Following the jury's decision, Gutierrez-Reed was taken into custody, a move that her defense attorney unsuccessfully sought to prevent until her sentencing.

"The reason why I'm going to remand you is you are now convicted, and this is a death," said the judge. "This is criminal negligence, but it's still death, and so, deputies, you are going to take her into custody." 

This case has been under the spotlight due to its complexity and the high-profile nature of the film's cast, particularly Alec Baldwin, who has also faced charges related to the incident. Baldwin pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter, and his legal proceedings have seen significant developments, including a reassignment of judges and the cancellation of a trial date initially set for August.

Hutchins was behind the camera when she was shot by Baldwin. He was handling a prop gun that was loaded with a live round of ammunition, which the actor was unaware of. The bullet killed Hutchins and wounded director Joel Souza. Prosecutors claim that she was not adhering to basic safety protocols on set. 

"This is not a case where Hannah Gutierrez made one mistake," said prosecutor Kari Morrissey in the closing argument. "This case is about constant, never-ending safety failures that resulted in the death of a human being and nearly killed another." 

She continued, "This was a game of Russian roulette every time an actor had a gun with dummies. It is her job to say to an A-list actor, 'Hey, you can't behave that way with those firearms.' 

According to NPR, the firearms supplier said he "never supplied live rounds to the film crew." The conviction of Gutierrez-Reed is seen by many, including the legal team representing Hutchins' family, as a step towards accountability for the cinematographer's death. This case has brought to light several allegations against Gutierrez-Reed, including substance use during filming and poor handling of the firearms used on set. The defense's counterargument, posited by Jason Bowles, that Baldwin's actions were the direct cause of Hutchins' death, adds another layer of complexity to the case. 

"You have a production company on a shoestring budget, an A-list actor calling all the shots," he said. "In the end, they had someone they could all blame. 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 the truth." 

Bowles' statement that Baldwin, not Gutierrez-Reed, deviated from the script, thereby leading to the tragic accident, invites further scrutiny into the shared responsibility among all parties on set.

Gutierrez-Reed faces up to 18 months in prison. Her sentencing is set for a later day. However, Baldwin's trial is scheduled for July.

Photo Credit: Luis Sánchez Saturno/Getty Images/ NPR