GUILTY! Alec Baldwin's Armorer Convicted of Involuntary Manslaughter
Baldwin trial next after Hannah Gutierrez-Reed convicted for loading a live round in the gun that the actor pointed at his cinematographer and pulled the trigger
A New Mexico jury found Hannah Gutierrez-Reed guilty of involuntary manslaughter for giving Alec Baldwin a gun with a live round in it and for being reckless in her duties as an armorer for the movie “Rust.” This verdict bodes badly for Baldwin.
The verdict came in a few hours. Gutierrez-Reed was immediately taken into custody because the judge said it was a “death” case. She has not yet been sentenced. Defense Attorney Jason Bowles said afterward that he was “disappointed in the verdict, and we plan to appeal.”
Baldwin now faces his own jury trial this summer for pointing the loaded gun at Halyna Hutchins and pulling the trigger. This guilty verdict proves the prosecution was right that this is a criminal case, not a civil one.
Baldwin’s Trial Clues:
The verdict for Gutierrez-Reed will affect Baldwin’s June trial because the same special prosecutor Kari Morrissey said that he’s also to blame for the shooting.
“Dave Halls was charged. Baldwin was charged. Everyone with criminal culpability has been charged in this case,” Morrissey said in her closing argument. “She’s not getting scapegoated. She’s not being given a break because she’s a woman or young. That’s not how the law works.”
Morrissey gave several clues about her case against Baldwin. She told the jury that it could charge Hannah with a crime and still blame Baldwin.
"I'm not saying his conduct was right. I'm the person who indicted him,” said Morrissey. “Alec Baldwin's conduct and his lack of gun safety inside that church on that day is something he's going to have to answer for."
“Did Alec Baldwin also contribute when he pointed the gun at people and pulled the hammer back and— regardless of what he said to George Stephanopoulos - pulled the trigger?” Morrissey said to the jury. “Yes, he did. We will deal with it another time."
The Stephanopoulos reference is the ABC interview in 2021 in which Baldwin swore he never pulled the trigger, which has been disproven. I wrote about all of Baldwin’s lies in that interview right after the shooting in this story:
Armorer Prosecution
As for Hannah, Morrissey convinced the jury that her negligence in the armorer duties showed a willful disregard for and “lack of care” for other people.
“Hannah Gutierrez-Red knows that Baldwin was loose,” Morrissey said. The prosecutor referenced videos of Baldwin at other times pointing guns at the crew and shooting after the director yelled “cut.”
Morrissey also convinced the jury that Hannah “caused the death” of Hutchins even though the “ultimate act” was Baldwin pointing the gun.
“It was her job to say to an A-list actor — if that’s what you want to call him— that you can't behave that way with the firearms,” said the prosecutor.
Hannah’s Defense
Hannah’s lawyer Bowles told the jury in his closing argument that she was being scapegoated as the person with the least power on the set.
“Hannah wasn't in the church and didn't point that weapon, she didn't pull it,” he said in his closing argument. “Justice for Halyna does not mean injustice for Hannah - they don’t get to steamroll her.”
The jury disregarded a lesser charge of negligent use of a firearm. Also, Gutierrez-Reed was found not guilty for evidence tampering for allegedly hiding a bag of cocaine.
Bowles asked the judge to leave Hannah out on remand but was refused. She took off her jewelry before being taken out of court by the bailiffs.
Will Alec Baldwin be sent to jail next?
Discussion Questions:
Do you think this verdict was fair to Hannah?
Do you think Baldwin will also be found guilty or not?
Baldwin's attorney will use Gutierrezz-Reed's conviction to exonerate his client. Even if the judge tells them it has no bearing on the case, it will still be on the Jury's mind. The only hope for a guilty verdict rests on the Jury disliking him because he's an arrogant self obsessed twit. If the real Alec Baldwin shows up in the courtroom, he's toast.
When your wacko lefty this is what happens! Can never assume live round is not in chamber.