Dad of convicted ‘Rust’ armorer reacts to Alec Baldwin’s manslaughter case being dismissed

By Katherine Donlevy | New York Post

“Rust” armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed’s father said his daughter’s involuntary manslaughter conviction should be overturned after Alec Baldwin’s case — on the same charge — was tossed by a judge Friday.

“Well, I think that’s good,” Thell Reed, 81, told the DailyMail of the stunning end to Baldwin’s case, which was thrown out when a New Mexico justice ruled prosecutors had withheld evidence from the defense.

“I think Hannah’s case should also be dismissed,” the legendary Hollywood armorer told the outlet.

 Alec Baldwin reacts at the conclusion of his trial on involuntary manslaughter at Santa Fe County District Court in Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA, 12 July 2024.
Alec Baldwin reacts at the conclusion of his trial on involuntary manslaughter at Santa Fe County District Court in Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA, 12 July 2024.RAMSAY DE GIVE/POOL/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Reed’s daughter was sentenced in April to 18 months behind bars for bringing to set the bullets that killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.

“There’s a lot of evidence that hasn’t been heard at all. They suppressed all the important evidence and I guess [Baldwin’s] attorneys brought it out,” said Reed.

Gutierrez-Reed, 27, was slated to testify in Baldwin’s trial Friday before the judge paused proceedings to investigate the defense’s argument that the prosecution withheld evidence. 

The evidence in question was ammunition that was dropped off at the sheriff’s office in March by a man who said it could be related to Hutchins’ killing.

"Rust" armorer Hannah Gutierrez Reed
“Rust” armorer Hannah Gutierrez Reed to the maximum 18 months in prison for involuntary manslaughter Monday for shooting death in 2021 of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.ZUMAPRESS.com
Hannah Gutierrez-Reed watches her father Thell Reed walk off the podium during her sentencing hearing in Santa Fe, New Mexico on April 15, 2024.
Hannah Gutierrez-Reed watches her father Thell Reed walk off the podium during her sentencing hearing in Santa Fe, New Mexico on April 15, 2024.AP
Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer dismissed the case on Friday.
Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer dismissed the case on Friday.Getty Images

The judge sent the jury home early Friday after lawyers for the “30 Rock” star filed a motion to dismiss the case, claiming that live ammunition related to Hutchins’ 2021 shooting was “concealed” from them.

Prosecutors argued the ammunition didn’t match others found on the set — but defense lawyers found that some had the same engravings as those used for the film. Others looked like inert dummy rounds that had been taken into evidence.

Gutierrez-Reed, who inadvertently loaded the rounds into the Colt .45, had already been convicted of involuntary manslaughter when the ammunition was brought in.

“It should [be grounds for an appeal]. She didn’t do anything wrong. They’ve absolutely made her a scapegoat,” Reed told the DailyMail.

Halyna Hutchins was killed during the filming of "Rust."
Halyna Hutchins was killed during the filming of “Rust.”HalynaHutchins/Instagram
Alec Baldwin in a cowboy hat pointing a prop gun on the set of the movie Rust.
Alec Baldwin points a gun on the set of “Rust.”Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office

Gutierrez-Reed is already in the process of appealing her conviction, which found her guilty failing to follow basic gun safety protocols.

Prosecutors said she handed the loaded gun to Baldwin, who pointed it at Hutchins during a rehearsal. The Emmy-winning star claimed he cocked the hammer but did not pull the trigger on the weapon.

Director Joel Souza, 51, was also injured in the incident.

Gutierrez-Reed said at her sentencing hearing that she had tried to do her best on the set despite not having “proper time, resources and staffing.”

The revolver Baldwin was holding and fired that killed Hutchins.
The revolver Baldwin was holding and fired that killed Hutchins.ZUMAPRESS.com
Movie Director Joel Souza, 51, was also injured in the incident.
Movie Director Joel Souza, 51, was also injured in the incident.AP

Gutierrez-Reed was acquitted of an evidence tampering charge at trial, and still confronts separate court proceedings on allegations she carried a firearm into a bar in downtown Santa Fe.

She is currently serving her sentence at the women-only Santa Fe County Adult Detention Facility.