'Rust' armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed gets 18 months prison sentence, Internet hopes it 'serves as a lesson'

SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO: Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the chief weapons handler in the movie 'Rust', was sentenced to 18 months in prison on Monday, April 15, for the fatal on-set shooting of the film’s cinematographer, Halyna Hutchins, in 2021.

The sentence was handed down by Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer at an emotionally charged hearing that began at 10.30 am in Santa Fe.

Hannah Gutierrez-Reed’s 'emotional hearing'

During the hearing, Gutierrez-Reed sat in the courtroom, at times appearing to have tears in her eyes.

Joel Souza, the writer and director of 'Rust' who was also injured in the shooting, Craig Mizrahi, Hutchins’ former agent, and several of her friends gave statements on the impact of Hutchins’ death, according to CBS News.

Attorney Gloria Allred read a statement at the hearing written by Hutchins' mother, Olga, who gave spoken remarks herself in a video recorded in Ukraine.

"It's the hardest thing to lose a child," Hutchins' mother said. "And time does not heal. It is two and a half years past, and it gets worse and worse."

Gutierrez-Reed was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter on March 6, marking the most substantial criminal consequence yet in the legal fallout over Hutchins’ death.

All eyes on Alec Baldwin’s trial now

The trial for Alec Baldwin, who served as both an actor and co-producer on the film, is set for July 10, following a grand jury indictment for involuntary manslaughter.

After the Santa Fe jury took less than two hours on March 6 to find Gutierrez-Reed guilty of involuntary manslaughter, with one juror stating that the defendant had not done “her job” to ensure weapons safety on set, the attention shifted to Baldwin.

People are anticipating equal sentencing for Baldwin too. 

Internet has mixed opinions of Hannah Gutierrez-Reed

The internet reacted to the sentencing with mixed responses. “So sad but ultimately it’s her fault,” wrote one user. “Tragic consequences that could have been prevented,” wrote another.

One user commented, “Hannah Gutierrez-Reed got herself in a sticky situation, loading a gun for Alec Baldwin and ending up with a sentence. Looks like she accidentally fired up some serious trouble.

"Let’s hope this serves as a lesson to always double-check before handing out firearms on set! Safety first, folks!”

Despite the maximum sentence for involuntary manslaughter in Mexico being 18 months, some felt it was a slap on the wrist.

“That’s pretty light considering her mess up lead to someone’s death,” one user wrote.

Others demanded harsher punishment for Baldwin, with one stating, “Baldwin should be given life.”

Another user wrote, “If Alec Baldwin doesn’t get jail time then it’s proof that guns kill people and not people with guns.”

One user pointed out, “She was unqualified for that job. She was reckless which led to the death of an innocent woman.”

The sentiment of disbelief was echoed by another user who wrote, “Unreal. The person that pulled the trigger is walking. Talk about privilege.” Baldwin's trial for similar charges starts on June 10.

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.