The tragic case of theaccidental shooting on the set of the filmRusttook another turn on March 6, whenHannah Gutierrez Reed, the armorer operating onset, was convicted of involuntary manslaughter. Gutierrez Reed was convicted by jurors, who returned a verdict after just under three hours of deliberations on Wednesday afternoon, after a fortnight of prior deliberations on the safety lapses on set that leftHalyna Hutchinsdead. Gutierrez Reed faces up to 18 months in prison when she returns for sentencing. The judge in the case,Mary Marlowe Sommer, ordered that Gutierrez Reed be remanded into custody until her sentencing.
Gutierrez Reed was the first person to stand trial in the case around the shooting on the film set at the Bonanza Creek Ranch, which is just outside Santa Fe, New Mexico. The shooting occurred on June 12, 2025. ActorAlec Baldwinis to stand trial for manslaughter in July for his part in the proceedings.
As the armorer for the movie, Gutierrez Reed was in charge of ensuring the safe use of firearms on the set. However, she inserted a live round into Baldwin’s gun, which was supposed to be loaded only with blanks. The discharge of the weapon resulted inthe death of Hutchins and grievously injured directorJoel Souza.For the jury to find her guilty of involuntary manslaughter, they needed to concur that Gutierrez Reed demonstrated a “willful disregard for the safety of others” and that the fatal outcome was a “foreseeable” result of her behavior.
What’s Happening with Alec Baldwin’s ‘Rust’?
Following the tragic events,Rustresumed production in January 2023, under the direction of Souza.First images were released from the film,which showcased some of Hutchins' final work along with photography byBianca Cline, who took over as cinematographer. The movie stars Baldwin as Harlan Rust, an aging outlaw. Described as a passion project for Baldwin, who is credited as a co-writer on the script,Rusttells the story of an outlaw in 1880s Kansas who rescues his thirteen-year-old grandson, who has been sentenced to hang for murder after an accidental shooting. Now, two unlikely fugitives roam the land, trying to outrun the long arm of the law.
The film starsPatrick Scott McDermottas Rust’s grandson, Lucas Hollister, alongside the likes ofJensen Ackles(Supernatural),Travis Fimmel(Raised By Wolves),Frances Fisher(Unforgiven),Jake Busey(Stranger Things),Josh Hopkins(Cougar Town), andDevon Werkheiser(Ned’s Declassified School Survival Guide).
Rustis currently in post-production, and has not yet set a release date.
