07/03/2024
07/03/2024

LOS ANGELES, March 7, (Agencies): Hannah Gutierrez Reed has been convicted of involuntary manslaughter in connection to the tragic on-set shooting that claimed the life of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. The verdict was reached by a jury at the First Judicial District Courthouse in Santa Fe, New Mexico, after less than three hours of deliberation. The 26-year-old Rust armorer was found partially liable for the incident but was acquitted of a separate charge of tampering with evidence.
In her closing argument, prosecutor Kari Morrissey emphasized the alarming negligence in gun safety, asserting that it played a significant role in Halyna Hutchins' death. Morrissey contended that this case was not about a single accidental mistake but a pattern of constant safety failures that led to a tragic outcome.
In response, defense attorney Jason Bowles argued that Gutierrez Reed was unfairly made a "convenient fall person" and criticized the detectives for what he claimed was an inadequate investigation into the October 2021 shooting.
Following the guilty verdict, Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer ordered Gutierrez Reed to be remanded into custody at the Santa Fe County Adult Detention Center. The conviction could lead to a maximum sentence of up to 18 months in prison, and a sentencing date has yet to be determined.
Attorneys Gloria Allred and John Carpenter, representing Halyna Hutchins' parents and sister, released a statement expressing satisfaction with the jury's decision. They emphasized the desire for accountability and justice for Halyna's death, acknowledging that this trial marked the first step in the criminal justice process. The statement concluded with a hopeful outlook, anticipating that others responsible for Halyna's death would also face legal consequences in the ongoing pursuit of justice.