Hannah Gutierrez Reed, the armorer convicted in connection with the fatal shooting on the set of the film Rust, has been released on parole after serving 14 months in prison.
Gutierrez Reed, 28, was released Friday morning from the Western New Mexico Correctional Facility. She has been ordered to return to her residence in Bullhead City, Arizona. Her attorney, Jason Bowles, declined to comment on the release, citing respect for her privacy.
In October 2021, Gutierrez Reed loaded a live round into a prop gun held by actor Alec Baldwin during filming near Santa Fe, New Mexico. The gun discharged, killing cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and injuring director Joel Souza. Prosecutors said Gutierrez Reed acted with criminal negligence, while her defense claimed she was unaware that the ammunition had been contaminated with live rounds.
Baldwin also faced involuntary manslaughter charges. His case went to trial in July 2023 but was dismissed after it was revealed that the prosecution had withheld evidence. The Santa Fe District Attorney later dropped the appeal, following the state attorney general’s refusal to continue the case.
At her trial earlier this year, prosecutors accused Gutierrez Reed of consistently unsafe behavior on set. They said she failed to maintain proper weapon safety and allowed actors to handle guns carelessly. The defense argued that she was overworked and blamed production staff for safety lapses.
Dummy rounds are designed to be distinguishable from live rounds by the sound of BBs inside. Prosecutors argued Gutierrez Reed should have shaken each round to confirm it was inert. They also claimed she brought the live rounds onto the set, though the source of the ammunition remains in dispute.
In April, Gutierrez Reed was sentenced to 18 months in prison — the maximum for involuntary manslaughter. Under her parole terms, which last until next year, she is barred from owning or handling firearms. She must also complete a mental health evaluation and either find employment or enroll in school within 45 days.
Her legal case is not over. An appeal is underway, with the defense citing alleged errors by the trial judge. Gutierrez Reed also previously pleaded guilty to illegally bringing a firearm into a bar, though that charge did not extend her prison time. Multiple civil lawsuits related to the incident are still pending.
David Halls, the first assistant director responsible for on-set safety, pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge of negligent handling of a firearm. He received six months of unsupervised probation and has since left the film industry.
Rust was eventually completed and released in limited theaters on May 2, 2025. It grossed just $25,000 across 115 locations.
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