Alec Baldwin’s ‘Rust’ Armorer Walks Free After Over a Year Behind Bars

Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the armorer convicted in connection with the 2021 accidental shooting death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of Alec Baldwin’s film Rust, has been released from prison.

After serving the majority of her sentence—13 months of an 18-month term—she is now back home in Bullhead City, Arizona, under strict parole conditions.

Gutierrez-Reed was found guilty in March 2024 of involuntary manslaughter.

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The conviction stemmed from the tragic incident on the Rust set in October 2021, when a prop gun held by actor Alec Baldwin discharged a live round, killing Hutchins and injuring director Joel Souza.

While prosecutors accused Gutierrez-Reed of bringing live ammunition onto the set and neglecting fundamental firearm safety practices, the jury acquitted her of a separate charge of tampering with evidence. Her appeal on the manslaughter conviction is still pending in a higher court.

Upon her release from the Western New Mexico Correctional Facility, Gutierrez-Reed entered parole with several strict conditions.

The movie armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, from Alec Baldwin’s film “Rust” earned early release from a New Mexico prison after serving 13 of her 18 month sentence for manslaughter. Parole rewarded her for completing in-patient drug rehab. Wishing the young lady all the best at a… pic.twitter.com/7eU0vqx6ib

— Philip Dubé (@PhilipCDube) May 25, 2025

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These include mental health evaluations, a curfew, and a ban on owning or possessing firearms. Additionally, she is barred from having any contact with Hutchins’ family.

She remains on probation as well, stemming from an unrelated incident: just weeks before filming on Rust began, Gutierrez-Reed admitted to unlawfully carrying a gun into a bar in downtown Santa Fe—a location where firearms are strictly prohibited.

The question of accountability in Hutchins’ death has haunted Hollywood and sparked widespread debate.

Many critics argue that Gutierrez-Reed, who was 24 years old at the time of the incident, has become the scapegoat for a tragedy with multiple points of failure.

Still, she remains the only individual to have served prison time for the incident.

‘Rust’ Shooting Armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed Released From Prison: https://t.co/gK2aWuY9BA pic.twitter.com/sQEAST6qAC

— E! News (@enews) May 25, 2025

Meanwhile, Alec Baldwin, who was holding the gun that discharged the fatal round, was also charged with involuntary manslaughter.

His case, however, took a dramatic turn in July 2024 when it was dismissed with prejudice.

Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer found that prosecutors had withheld exculpatory evidence from Baldwin’s legal team, a serious breach that led to the dismissal of charges.

Because the case was dismissed with prejudice, Baldwin cannot be recharged for Hutchins’ death.

Following the court’s decision, Baldwin was overcome with emotion.

“It’s been a sad situation, and there is no winning here,” a source told People magazine.

First trailer for ‘THE BALDWINS’, a new reality series about Alec Baldwin, his wife and their 7 children.

Premiering February 23 on TLC. pic.twitter.com/8p45mZaYtE

— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) January 27, 2025

“They didn’t celebrate. They were very worried and are grateful now that they are able to spend the rest of the summer with their kids.”

Baldwin and his wife Hilaria, who share seven young children, have since moved into the public eye with a new reality television series on TLC titled The Baldwins.

Despite the tragic circumstances surrounding its production, Rust was ultimately completed.

The film premiered at the EnergaCAMERIMAGE film festival in Poland in November 2024 and was released in U.S. theaters on May 2, 2025. It is now available on streaming platforms like Apple TV and Prime Video.

First trailer for ‘RUST,’ starring Alec Baldwin.

The film of which was marked by the tragic passing of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins after a prop gun fired. pic.twitter.com/jhOjoR6t2T

— The Hollywood Handle (@HollywoodHandle) March 27, 2025

Director Joel Souza, who was injured during the same incident that killed Hutchins, has been candid about the difficult decision to finish the film.

“There are people out there who have very strong feelings that we shouldn’t have done it [finished Rust],” Souza told The Hollywood Reporter in October 2024.

“I’m not going to try to change their minds. Just understand that we are here because we want to honor her. We want to showcase her work. We want it not to just disappear.”

As of now, Gutierrez-Reed has not spoken publicly since her release, and many questions remain. Was justice truly served?

Did the legal system do enough to hold all responsible parties accountable?

While Baldwin walks free and resumes life with his family, Gutierrez-Reed’s future remains uncertain as she navigates life post-incarceration under the cloud of a pending appeal.

Whether the tragedy of Halyna Hutchins’ death ultimately results in meaningful industry change or is remembered only through courtrooms and headlines remains to be seen.

One thing is clear—this story continues to provoke strong feelings and deep divisions in Hollywood and beyond.

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