Film Set Weapons Supervisor Charged with Evidence Tampering in ‘Rust’ Shooting Case

Weapons Supervisor on “Rust” Film Set Charged with Evidence Tampering in Fatal Shooting Case

The weapons supervisor on the film set of “Rust” has been charged with evidence tampering in relation to the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, who was previously charged with involuntary manslaughter in the case, is now accused of attempting to conceal drugs by passing them to another person on the day of the 2021 shooting.

According to the amended court filing by Santa Fe County special prosecutors, Gutierrez-Reed “did transfer narcotics to another person with the intent to prevent the apprehension, prosecution, or conviction of herself.” However, Gutierrez-Reed’s attorney, Jason Bowles, strongly criticized the accusation, stating that there was no prior notice or evidence to support the new charge.

The incident occurred during an informal rehearsal on October 21, 2021, on the set of the low-budget Western at Bonanza Creek Ranch in Santa Fe County, New Mexico. Alec Baldwin, the star and producer of “Rust,” was holding a supposed prop gun that discharged a live bullet, resulting in the death of Hutchins and the injury of director Joel Souza.

In January of this year, involuntary manslaughter charges were brought against Baldwin and Gutierrez-Reed, the film’s armorer, after prosecutors alleged that they failed to follow safety measures to prevent shootings. Both pleaded not guilty. Assistant director David Halls, who had called out “cold gun” on set to indicate that the weapon did not contain live rounds, signed a plea deal on charges of negligent use of a deadly weapon.

However, elements of the case began to unravel, leading to the lead prosecutor stepping down in March after facing criticism. The charge against Baldwin was unexpectedly dropped the following month due to the emergence of “new facts.” In May, the new special prosecutors revealed that the gun Baldwin was holding may have been modified to increase the likelihood of an accidental discharge.

Gutierrez-Reed has since become the focus of ongoing investigations. A week before the evidence tampering charge, prosecutors claimed in a court document that she was likely “hung over” when she inserted a live bullet into a gun that she knew would be used by an actor. The document, however, provided no evidence to support the claim but mentioned witnesses accusing Gutierrez-Reed of heavy drinking and marijuana use in the evenings.

Bowles has repeatedly criticized the investigation as biased against Gutierrez-Reed, accusing the special prosecutors of being “retaliatory and vindictive” towards his client.

Apart from the criminal case, the shooting has resulted in other lawsuits. Earlier this month, a New Mexico district court judge approved a settlement in a wrongful-death lawsuit filed by Hutchins’s family against Baldwin, the film’s production companies, producers, and other key crew members. The lawsuit alleged several violations of industry standards.

“Rust” resumed production in April, on the same day charges against Baldwin were dropped, and completed filming the following month. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for August, but it remains unclear when the case will go to trial.

Correction: An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated that charges were initially brought in January 2022. The charges were actually brought in January 2023. The article has been corrected.

What impact could the new evidence tampering charge have on the outcome of the case regarding the shooting on the set of “Rust

Ounds, was also charged with involuntary manslaughter.

The new charge against Gutierrez-Reed for evidence tampering comes as a surprise, with her attorney arguing that there was no evidence or prior notice to support it. The amended court filing alleges that she attempted to conceal drugs by passing them to another person on the day of the shooting.

The tragic incident took place during an informal rehearsal on October 21, 2021, on the set of “Rust” at Bonanza Creek Ranch. Baldwin, who also serves as the film’s producer, was holding a prop gun that discharged a live bullet, resulting in the death of Hutchins and the injury of Souza.

Earlier this year, both Baldwin and Gutierrez-Reed were charged with involuntary manslaughter for allegedly failing to follow safety measures to prevent such a shooting. They have pleaded not guilty to the charges. Additionally, assistant director Halls, who had declared the weapon to be a “cold gun” indicating there were no live rounds, was also charged with involuntary manslaughter.

The evidence tampering charge against Gutierrez-Reed adds another layer of complexity to the case. It remains to be seen how this development will impact the ongoing investigation and legal proceedings surrounding the tragic shooting on the film set of “Rust.”