Hannah Gutierrez-Reed Released on Parole After Fatal Shooting Conviction

SANTA FE, N.M. — Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the armorer convicted in the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the film Rust, was released from a New Mexico prison on Friday after completing an 18-month sentence. Gutierrez-Reed was paroled to her home in Bullhead City, Arizona.

In March 2024, she was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in the death of Hutchins, who was killed during a rehearsal when actor Alec Baldwin discharged a prop gun that had been loaded with a live round. Director Joel Souza was also injured in the incident.

Gutierrez-Reed had been serving time at the Western New Mexico Correctional Facility in Grants, New Mexico. She will remain under probation terms for a separate conviction for unlawfully carrying a firearm into a licensed liquor establishment.

During her trial, Gutierrez-Reed’s defense highlighted her young age and the significant impact a felony conviction could have on her future. “Your honor, when I took on Rust, I was young and naive… that doesn’t make me a monster. That makes me human,” she said in court.

Prosecutors argued that Gutierrez-Reed was negligent and failed to ensure the safety of the firearms used on set, which allowed live ammunition to accidentally end up in the prop gun. Baldwin’s involuntary manslaughter charge was dismissed last year after it was determined that evidence might have been withheld from the defense.

Under the conditions of her parole, Gutierrez-Reed will face electronic monitoring, a curfew, and must secure employment or enroll in an educational program. The terms also include mental health assessments and a prohibition against owning firearms.

Gutierrez-Reed maintains that she is appealing her conviction as the film continues to draw public scrutiny. The filming of Rust was eventually completed in Montana and was released in theaters earlier this month.