SANTA FE, NM. (THECOUNT) — “Rust” armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed and her family are now seeking a reconsideration of her case following the dismissal of charges against actor Alec Baldwin. Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer recently dismissed Baldwin’s involuntary manslaughter case, citing undisclosed evidence that could have influenced the outcome.
Special prosecutor Erlinda Johnson resigned after acknowledging a Brady violation, prompting questions about whether this development could impact Gutierrez-Reed’s situation. The rookie armorer’s father, veteran armorer Thell Reed, believes his daughter was unfairly targeted in the aftermath of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins’ tragic death on the “Rust” set.
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Gutierrez-Reed, 27, was previously sentenced to 18 months in prison after being found guilty of involuntary manslaughter, though acquitted of tampering with evidence. Her family argues that crucial evidence regarding the origin of live ammunition on set was suppressed during trial proceedings.
With Baldwin’s case now dismissed with prejudice, Thell Reed hopes this will pave the way for a swift appeal for his daughter, stating, “She didn’t do anything wrong. They’ve absolutely made her a scapegoat.” The situation arose from an incident during a film rehearsal where Baldwin, holding a prop gun, inadvertently fired a live round, fatally injuring Hutchins and injuring director Joel Souza.
On Friday night, Thell Reed, 81, told the Daily Mail that the judge granting Baldwin’s motion to dismiss was “good” and felt that “Hannah’s case should also be dismissed.”
“There’s a lot of evidence that hasn’t been heard at all,” he alleged. “They [the prosecution] suppressed all the important evidence and I guess [Baldwin’s] attorneys brought it out.”
First assistant director David Halls, responsible for weapon safety checks on set, previously pled guilty to a misdemeanor for negligent weapon handling. The recent developments have cast a spotlight on procedural oversights and accountability in the film industry.
As legal proceedings evolve, the Gutierrez-Reed family remains adamant about seeking justice amid ongoing scrutiny over safety protocols and responsibility in film production.
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