An armorer for the film The Last has been offered a “favorable” outcome by prosecutors if he can explain how the live ammunition ended up on the film's set. Live ammunition was eventually given to actor Alec Baldwin before he opened fire and killed the cinematographer.
Armorer Hannah Gutierrez Reed faces up to three years in prison on charges of manslaughter and tampering with evidence in connection with the death of Halina Hutchins, director of photography for the movie “The Last.” Hutchins was shot and killed by Baldwin while preparing for a scene in which he pulled the trigger of a gun that was supposed to contain a “dummy bullet.” variety report.
Gutierrez-Reed was reportedly warned that he would face additional charges if he refused to provide information about where the live ammunition came from. Detectives asked the woman why there was live ammunition at the scene of the shooting, to which she replied, “I don't know.”
Several other live rounds were reportedly recovered from the scene, but their origin remains unclear.
Kari Morrissey, the special prosecutor assigned to the case, reportedly told defense attorneys in September 2023 that he believed Gutierrez-Reed knew more about the case than he was willing to say. There is.
“I felt very strongly that she had some notion of how the live rounds on set happened,” Morrissey wrote. “I certainly respect her right to remain silent and not come forward with that information, but if she could come forward and answer some of these questions that are plaguing the victims in this case… , which will go a long way in bringing about a favorable resolution for her.'' ”
“If she chooses not to do so, I respect her decision, but I intend to proceed with the additional felonies I spoke of,” Morrissey added.
Just over two weeks later, Gutierrez-Reed was charged with possession of a firearm in a liquor establishment, a fourth-degree felony, for allegedly bringing a gun into a bar in October 2021. This was less than two weeks after the “rusting incident”. ” Incident.
Evidence in the charges allegedly came from a search of photos and data on Gutierrez-Reed's cell phone, which was turned over to authorities in connection with the shooting.
Gutierrez-Reed's attorney, Jason Bowles, took all of the aforementioned actions as abuses of power. Bowles reportedly viewed the offer of a “favorable” outcome as a way for prosecutors to extract false confessions.
The attorney also asked for the additional charges to be dismissed, arguing that they were brought in a revenge-based manner.
“This is an extremely rare case in which statements regarding the prosecutor's motives behind the charges are obtained,” Bowles wrote. “This accusation puts pressure on Ms. Gutierrez-Reed to either waive her right to remain silent (to provide information she does not have) or to face felony criminal charges on completely unrelated charges. It was intended only for hanging.”
Bowles also argued that prosecutors were limited to the “Rust” case and were acting outside their authority when they charged Gutierrez-Reed with gun possession.
Actor Baldwin was initially charged with manslaughter, but the charges were dropped in April 2023.
Prosecutor Morrissey said “additional facts have come to light” warranting charges against the actor, but despite insisting charges would be filed within two months, nothing materialized.
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