In a New Mexico district court on Monday, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the armorer for the film "Rust," was sentenced to 18 months in prison for her role in the fatal shooting of the film's cinematographer. Gutierrez-Reed had been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter by a jury in March, making her the first person connected to the incident to receive a trial verdict.

Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer issued the sentence, stating that Gutierrez-Reed's actions constituted a serious and violent offense. Sommer emphasized that as the armorer, Gutierrez-Reed was responsible for ensuring the safety of the weapons on set but had instead turned a safe weapon into a lethal one.

The incident occurred in October 2021 during the filming of "Rust" when actor Alec Baldwin was rehearsing a scene with a revolver that discharged live ammunition, tragically killing cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and injuring director Joel Souza. Alec Baldwin, who maintained that he never pulled the trigger, has been indicted for involuntary manslaughter and is set to face trial in the summer.

Prosecutors argued that Gutierrez-Reed's unprofessional conduct and lack of diligence led to live ammunition being present on set, ultimately resulting in Hutchins's death. They also alleged that Gutierrez-Reed tampered with evidence by handing drugs to someone else involved in the film. Prosecutors called for the maximum 18-month sentence, highlighting Gutierrez-Reed's recorded jail conversations that showed a lack of remorse and a tendency to shift blame.

Witnesses, speaking on behalf of Hutchins and her family, eulogized the talented cinematographer and expressed their disappointment in the film industry for the tragedy that occurred on the "Rust" set. They also held Gutierrez-Reed responsible and called for the maximum penalty to be imposed.

In her statement before the verdict was read, Gutierrez-Reed tearfully expressed her remorse and maintained that she should not be regarded as a monster but as a human being who played a part in the awful tragedy.

The trial and conviction of Gutierrez-Reed provide a glimpse into what Baldwin may face when his trial begins on July 9. Originally charged with involuntary manslaughter in January 2023, Baldwin's charges were dropped to allow for further investigation. If convicted, he could also face 18 months in prison.

The sentencing of Gutierrez-Reed serves as a reminder of the devastating consequences that can occur on a film set when proper safety protocols are not followed. The tragedy has deeply impacted the victims' families and the entire film industry, sparking a stronger focus on ensuring the safety of all individuals involved in movie productions.