Hannah Gutierrez Reedhas been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter.
After less than three hours of deliberations, a jury at the First Judicial District Courthouse in Santa Fe, New Mexico, found that the 26-year-oldRustarmorer was liable, in part, for theon-set fatal shootingof cinematographerHalyna Hutchins. Gutierrez Reed was acquitted of a separate charge of tampering with evidence.
In her closing argument on Wednesday, prosecutor Kari Morrissey said, “The astonishing lack of diligence with regard to gun safety is without question a significant cause of the death of Halyna Hutchins,“per ABC News.
Hannah Gutierrez Reed confers with attorney Jason Bowles during her involuntary manslaughter trial in New Mexico.Jim Weber - Pool/Getty
Jim Weber - Pool/Getty
“This is not a case where Hannah Gutierrez made one mistake, and that one mistake was accidental – putting a live round into that gun,” Morrissey told jurors. “This case is about constant, neverending, safety failures that resulted in the death of a human being and nearly killed another.”
Defense attorney Jason Bowles said during his closing argument that Gutierrez Reed was a “convenient fall person” and that detectives did not conduct a thorough investigation of the Oct. 2021 shooting.
Hannah Gutierrez Reed talks to her defense team during her involuntary manslaughter trial.Jim Weber - Pool/Getty
Bowles told PEOPLE following the verdict that they will appeal.
Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer ordered that Gutierrez Reed be remanded into custody at the Santa Fe County Adult Detention Center following the guilty verdict. She faces up to 18 months in prison with the conviction. A sentencing date has not been set.
Attorneys Gloria Allred and John Carpenter, who represent Hutchins' parents and sister, issued the following statement after Wednesday’s verdict.
“Halyna’s parents and her sister have always wanted everyone who is responsible for Halyna’s death to be held accountable,” the statement read. “Today was the first trial and conviction in the criminal justice process. We are satisfied that the jury, based on the evidence, found Hannah Gutierrez-Reed guilty beyond a reasonable doubt for her part in the taking of Halyna’s life.”
“We look forward to the justice system continuing to make sure that everyone else who is responsible for Halyna’s death is required to face the legal consequences for their actions,” it concluded.
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human-interest stories.
Halyna Hutchins.Fred Hayes/Getty
Both Gutierrez Reed andRuststar/co-producerAlec Baldwinwere charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter in January 2023, over the death of Hutchins, 42, from a prop gun that Baldwin, 65, was holding on the film’s New Mexico set on Oct. 21, 2021. (The actormaintains that he did not pull the trigger.)
No charges will be filed related to the shooting ofRustdirectorJoel Souza. Souza, 50, was injured in the incident, which occurred during a rehearsal on the set at Bonanza Creek Ranch in Santa Fe.
In response to the criminal charges of involuntary manslaughter and tampering with evidence filed against her, Gutierrez Reedentered a written plea of not guiltyon Aug. 9, 2023.
Hannah Gutierrez-Reed in New Mexico on Oct. 21, 2021.Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office via AP
Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office via AP
In January 2023, Bowles and Todd J. Bullion, attorneys for Gutierrez Reed, said in a statement, “Hannah is, and has always been, very emotional and sad about this tragic accident. But she did not commit involuntary manslaughter.”
Baldwin was alsocharged with involuntary manslaughterin January 2023; however thecharges were dropped three months later, delaying the criminal case.
source: people.com
