• Home
  • About
    • Authors
  • Advertise
  • Articles
    • Archives
    • Chaplain
    • Crime & Controversy
    • Community
    • Cop Humor
    • Editorial
    • Op-ed
    • Gear & Technology
    • Investigations
    • Laws & Legal
    • Leadership
    • News
    • Officer Down
    • On Duty
    • Tactics
  • Network
    • Learn more
  • Training
  • Officer Privacy
  • Jobs
  • Contact
No Result
View All Result
Law Officer
Law Officer
No Result
View All Result

Rookie armorer on “Rust” set issues statement deflecting blame

Rust armorer

Hannah Gutierrez-Reed. (Voices of The West Facebook)

October 29, 2021
Law OfficerbyLaw Officer
Share and speak up for justice, law & order...

SANTA FE COUNTY, N.M. — The rookie armorer in charge of weapons when Alec Baldwin unintentionally shot and killed his cinematographer Halyna Hutchins has insisted she has “no idea” where the live ammunition came from and is placing the blame for the fatal tragedy on her cost-cutting bosses.

Lawyers for Hannah Gutierrez-Reed said Thursday that the 24-year-old woman “is devastated and completely beside herself over the events that have transpired” on the “Rust” set, New York Post reported.

“Safety is Hannah’s number one priority on set. Ultimately this set would never have been compromised if live ammo were not introduced,” her attorneys, Robert Gorence and Jason Bowles, said in a statement. “Hannah has no idea where the live rounds came from.”

The armorer’s job was only Gutierrez-Reed’s second such gig. She says the staff was lacking and under-trained. Moreover, she claims she was overruled when she tried to improve safety on the New Mexico set before Baldwin discharged a weapon that killed Hutchins, 42, last Thursday.

“Hannah was hired on two positions on this film, which made it extremely difficult to focus on her job as an armorer,” the statement said, without going into her additional responsibilities.

“She fought for training, days to maintain weapons and proper time to prepare for gunfire but ultimately was overruled by production and her department. The whole production set became unsafe due to various factors, including lack of safety meetings,” it said of the movie that days earlier avoided a strike by crew.

Gutierrez-Reed appeared to confirm prior reports that there had already been an “accidental discharge” of a weapon at least twice during filming, insisting she was not responsible for either.

“The first one on this set was the prop master and the second was a stunt man after Hannah informed him his gun was hot with blanks,” the statement said.

Crew members on the Montana set of Cage’s “The Old Way” accused the new armorer of breaking basic safety protocols in August, according to the Wrap.

At one point, Cage walked off set yelling at Gutierrez-Reed after she fired a weapon without warning for the second time in three days, the movie’s key grip, Stu Brumbaugh, told the news outlet.

“Make an announcement, you just blew my f—ing eardrums out!” Cage reportedly hollered before walking off in a rage, Brumbaugh recalled.

“She needs to be let go,” Brumbaugh told the assistant director.

“After the second round, I was pissed off. We were moving too fast. She’s a rookie,” he said, saying that it was only after complaining that he found out it was her first movie in charge of weapons, Law Officer reported.

Brumbaugh detailed a series of complaints that were made about Gutierrez-Reed, outlined in the New York Post. The complaints included her walking onto the set with live rounds or blanks without announcing it to the cast and crew.

She also walked around with pistols tucked under her armpits in a way that they were aiming back at people, Brumbaugh told the Wrap.

Another crew member — who spoke on the condition of anonymity — confirmed the concerns.

Although no criminal charges have yet been filed in the fatal shooting, Santa Fe District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies warned this week that “no one has been ruled out at this point … All options are on the table.”

Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza also said that the key focus of the investigation is on “how the live rounds ended up on set.”

Authorities collected about 500 rounds as part of the investigation, including blanks, dummy rounds, and live ammunition.


Share and speak up for justice, law & order...
Tags: Alec BaldwinHalyna HutchinsHannah Gutierrez-ReedMary Carmack-Altwiesmust-readnew mexicoRust setSanta Fe CountyStu Brumbaugh
Law Officer

Law Officer

Law Officer is the only major law enforcement publication and website owned and operated by law enforcement—for law enforcement and supporters of justice, law, and order. This unique facet makes Law Officer much more than just a publishing company, but a true advocate for the law enforcement profession.

Related Posts

Brad Lunsford

Wife of convicted officer fights for his freedom—and a new trial

March 21, 2025
law enforcement appreciation day

New Mexico church hosts law enforcement appreciation day

April 18, 2024
Hannah Gutierrez-Reed

‘Rust’ armorer given maximum sentence by New Mexico judge

April 15, 2024
Jaremy Smith

Police capture suspect in murder of New Mexico State patrolman and South Carolina paramedic

March 18, 2024
Hannah Gutierrez-Reed

‘Rust’ armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed convicted of involuntary manslaughter setting stage for Alec Baldwin trial

March 7, 2024
Patrol Officer Jonah Hernandez

Knife-wielding attacker kills New Mexico patrol officer; witness fatally shoots suspect

February 12, 2024
Load More

Latest Articles

The Problem with Promotions

June 20, 2025
Melissa Hortman

Former Minnesota House Speaker Assassinated in Attack on Multiple Lawmakers

June 14, 2025

Sheriff: If You Throw a Brick At Our Deputy, ‘We Will Kill You, Graveyard Dead’

June 13, 2025

Former USAID Officer and Executives Plead Guilty in $550 Million Bribery Scheme

June 13, 2025

A Case Study in Federal Corruption and Media Silence

June 12, 2025

‘Completely blew it’: Former union president calls out Minneapolis Police Department leadership missteps

June 12, 2025
Load More

Weekly E-Newsletter

Subscribe—and get the latest news and editorials direct from Law Officer each week!

[newsletter_form type="minimal"]

Protect Your Privacy

JOIN THE FIGHT

BE COURAGEOUS

POPULAR GEAR

Tactical Pants

Tactical Boots

 

FIND MORE…

Law Officer

© 2024 LawOfficer.com

LawOfficer.com

  • Home
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy Policy
  • Corrections
  • Contact

Speak up for justice, law & order

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • About
    • Authors
  • Advertise
  • Articles
    • Archives
    • Chaplain
    • Crime & Controversy
    • Community
    • Cop Humor
    • Editorial
    • Op-ed
    • Gear & Technology
    • Investigations
    • Laws & Legal
    • Leadership
    • News
    • Officer Down
    • On Duty
    • Tactics
  • Network
    • Learn more
  • Training
  • Officer Privacy
  • Jobs
  • Contact

© 2024 LawOfficer.com