Rust Armorer Found Guilty Of Involuntary Manslaughter
06-03-2024
Halyna Hustins, a cinematographer, was tragically killed on October 21, 2021 in an accident that occurred during production of "Rust," a film starring Alec Baldwin. Baldwin, who was the director of photography for "Rust," discharged live ammunition from a Pietta Colt.45 revolver that had been used as props while preparing to shoot a scene. This caused injuries to director Joel Souza, and killed Halyna Hutchins. Hutchins family sued Baldwin and crew on Rust on February 15, 2022. They claimed that Hutchins death could have been prevented and was the result of irresponsible behavior on set and cost-cutting measures. Hannah Gutierrez Reed, an armorer on the set, was today found guilty of unintentional manslaughter.
Gutierrez Reed was responsible for the safety of the firearms used on the set as the armorer. He was also the person who loaded the bullets into the gun that Baldwin was using. Gutierrez Reed was the first to be tried in relation to the shooting. He testified for two weeks about lapses of safety on set. The jury reportedly reached a verdict in less than three-hours of deliberations. Variety reported that Kari Morrissey, the prosecutor in this case, called Gutierrez Reed’s actions "astonishing". She also said they were a failure to follow industry safety standards. Variety reports Gutierrez Reed has been acquitted on a separate charge for evidence tampering and could face up to 18-months in prison. Baldwin's own manslaughter trial will take place in July.
Halyna, rest in peace
Halyna was a leading independent cinematographer of genre films. She worked on Pollyanna MacIntosh's Darlin', Adam Egypt Mortimer's Archenemy, and Hannah Macpherson's upcoming horror film "Time Cut." Mortimer wrote a touching tribute to Hutchins shortly after her death. The entire In Memoriam of Mortimer is stunning, but I think two particular passages are more memorable than the outcome of any court case. He wrote:
Her total faith in the art of film and her ability to create beautiful things was what gave her this fierce calm. Her deep vulnerability, along with her forcefield of honesty and integrity was what made her beautiful and radiant. She always had bright eyes.
She was unwavering and stubborn in her belief that she would be able to turn any scene into an art. She was adamant about her work. The frame had to be perfect before we rolled the camera. She was able to withstand all the pressure that her stubbornness had created. And she did so because she knew there would be something wonderful on the other end. Now my friend and collaborator is the one on the other end. Hope it is beautiful.
Halyna Hutchins cannot be brought back by a court ruling, but she lives on through her contributions to cinematography, the Halyna Hutchins Scholarship Fund, which supports the education of women cinematographers at the American Film Institute and "Halyna's Law", a proposed law that would make using real ammunition in film or television a crime.