Court records have revealed that Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the armorer for the film “Rust,” expressed a strong desire for actor Alec Baldwin to be jailed. This revelation comes as Baldwin faces an involuntary manslaughter charge related to the tragic on-set shooting that resulted in the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and injured director Joel Souza.
In April, special prosecutor Kari T. Morrissey filed documents summarizing recorded prison phone calls in which Gutierrez-Reed, who was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in March, voiced her anger towards Baldwin. She reportedly stated that she wants to see Baldwin, 66, “in jail.”
The court documents, which were filed to oppose Gutierrez-Reed’s request for a conditional discharge (probation instead of a prison sentence), did not include transcripts of the calls. Instead, they provided summaries of her conversations with family members and others. Prosecutors argued that these calls demonstrated Gutierrez-Reed’s “total failure to accept responsibility” for her role in the incident.
In various conversations, Gutierrez-Reed allegedly referred to prosecutor Morrissey as a “bitch,” called jury members “a——-,” and expressed frustration that the blame for the incident was placed solely on her. One call summary noted, “Hannah wants them to put Alec Baldwin in jail also.”
In another call, Gutierrez-Reed reportedly stated that she would not appear if subpoenaed to Baldwin’s trial. Her attorney, Jason Bowles, criticized the characterization of her comments, arguing that it was unfair to judge someone based on statements made while they were upset and recently incarcerated. He accused the prosecution of prioritizing a win-at-all-costs attitude over fairness.
Baldwin’s legal team had listed Gutierrez-Reed as a potential witness, but during a pretrial interview on May 14, she invoked her Fifth Amendment right to avoid self-incrimination. Legal expert Emily D. Baker explained that Gutierrez-Reed is entitled to invoke the Fifth Amendment to protect herself during her appeal.
Prosecutors have requested that the court compel Gutierrez-Reed to testify at Baldwin’s trial, scheduled for July 10, and grant her “use immunity.” This would mean that anything she says during her testimony cannot be used against her. Prosecutors warned that if Gutierrez-Reed is not granted use immunity, Baldwin’s defense might attempt to introduce her previous statements as evidence, arguing that she is unavailable due to her Fifth Amendment assertion.
If Gutierrez-Reed does not testify, Baldwin’s attorneys could potentially use clips from her prior police interviews. In these interviews, she admitted that she should have checked the gun more thoroughly, which could be beneficial to Baldwin’s defense. Baker noted that listing Gutierrez-Reed as a witness was a strategic move by Baldwin’s legal team, as it could allow them to use her previous statements if she pleads the Fifth.
In court documents filed in May, Morrissey alleged that Baldwin had proposed a deal to Gutierrez-Reed and her lawyer after the shooting. According to the documents, Baldwin offered to make a public statement absolving Gutierrez-Reed of wrongdoing in exchange for her and her team refraining from criticizing him in the press regarding his claim that he did not pull the trigger.
Baldwin has consistently maintained that he did not pull the trigger of the prop gun and was unaware that it contained live ammunition. If convicted of involuntary manslaughter, he faces up to 18 months in prison.
Prosecutors have also accused Gutierrez-Reed of transferring a small bag of cocaine to a witness on the day of the fatal shooting, allegedly to avoid prosecution and prevent law enforcement from obtaining evidence related to her handling of the firearm. Gutierrez-Reed’s lawyer, Jason Bowles, questioned the credibility of this “secret witness” and criticized the prosecution’s case as lacking evidence.
Additionally, prosecutors have claimed that Gutierrez-Reed was drinking heavily and smoking marijuana during the filming of “Rust,” and was likely hungover when she loaded the prop gun with a live bullet. They argued that her actions demonstrated criminal negligence.
The tragic incident on the set of “Rust” has led to multiple lawsuits and criminal charges. Baldwin has pleaded not guilty to the involuntary manslaughter charge and has waived his arraignment. The trial, which was initially scheduled for August, has been delayed due to a judge reassignment.
As the legal proceedings continue, the families of Halyna Hutchins have expressed their desire for accountability and justice. They have stated that they want everyone responsible for Hutchins’ death to face legal consequences.
The case has drawn significant attention, with many in the film industry and the public closely following the developments. The outcome of Baldwin’s trial and the potential testimony of Gutierrez-Reed will be critical in determining the legal ramifications of this tragic incident.
