Buildings used on the set of the movie “Rust” can be seen near a chapel, enhancing the visual appeal of the location. This image captured on April 21, 2023, showcases the resumption of filming after the tragic shooting death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins in New Mexico in 2021. The photograph, courtesy of Reuters/Sandra Stojanovic, highlights the synergy between the film world and real-life settings.
In a significant development, special prosecutors recently revealed that the armorer for “Rust,” Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, engaged in drug transfer on the same day that the film’s cinematographer lost her life. This disclosure, made on June 22, resulted in a fresh charge against Gutierrez-Reed for tampering with evidence. The charge specifically relates to the narcotics transfer that took place on October 21, 2021, with the intent to impede her own apprehension, prosecution, or conviction.
To address these charges, Gutierrez-Reed’s lawyer, Jason Bowles, issued a statement clarifying that his client intends to enter a plea of not guilty for both the new charge and the existing charge of involuntary manslaughter in connection with Halyna Hutchins’ tragic death on the film set outside Santa Fe, New Mexico.
The unveiling of the new charge coincided with the announcement by Robert Shilling, the lead investigator for the Santa Fe district attorney’s office, that he has serious concerns regarding the sheriff’s investigation into the shooting and the final report submitted in October 2022. In an email sent to prosecutors on Tuesday, Shilling expressed strong criticism, labeling the conduct of the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office during and after the initial investigation as reprehensible and unprofessional. He emphasized the enormity of the task at hand and doubted the efficiency of any investigative team, stating, “Not I or 200 more proficient investigators than I can/could clean up the mess delivered to your office in October 2022.” Shilling declined further comment on the matter.
At present, special prosecutors and the SFCSO have yet to respond to requests for comment regarding these developments. However, it is worth mentioning that Bowles inadvertently received Shilling’s email, which was then requested to be deleted by prosecutors, as evidenced by the email exchange outlined in the court filing. Bowles deemed the new charge as “retaliatory and vindictive,” citing the email correspondence as a cause for concern. He believes that this alarming exchange strongly supports his motion for the case to be dismissed.
It is noteworthy that Gutierrez-Reed remains the sole individual facing charges in relation to the tragic death of Halyna Hutchins. The circumstances surrounding the incident involve Gutierrez-Reed mistakenly loading a live round into a revolver being used by actor Alec Baldwin during a rehearsal. This information is documented in a transcript of the police interview.
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