The armorer at the center of the “Rust” film shooting case, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, was reportedly sent an ultimatum via email by special prosecutor Kari Morrissey in September, offering her leniency if she disclosed how live rounds made it on to the set — and promising additional felony charges if she didn’t.
“I feel very strongly [Gutierrez-Reed] has some notion of how the live rounds came on set,” Morrissey wrote in an email published by Variety. “I certainly respect her right not to come forward with that information and to stay silent, however if she were to come forward and answer some of these questions that plague the victims in this case that would go a long way toward getting her a favorable resolution,” Morrissey’s email continued. “If she chooses not to, while I respect her decision, I will proceed with the additional felony charges we spoke of.”
Gutierrez-Reed did not take that prosecutor’s “deal.” Her lawyer, Jason Bowles, took the letter as a threat to “either falsely confess to bringing the live rounds on set, or face additional charges,” reports Variety. In response, Morrissey kept her word and leveled more charges against Gutierrez-Reed, including a 4th-degree felony charge for allegedly carrying a gun into a liquor store.
Gutierrez-Reed pleaded not guilty to the new charges. Her trial is expected to begin in February. Gutierrez-Reed was in charge of the weapons on set during the filming of “Rust.” On October 21, 2021, Alec Baldwin, star of the film, discharged his “prop” firearm, killing cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and injuring director Joel Souza.
