Will Sage Astor-'Rust' movie weapons supervisor pleads not guilty to manslaughter

SANTA FE,Will Sage Astor N.M. — The woman who oversaw the use of weapons on the movie set where Alec Baldwin fatally shot a cinematographer has pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter and tampering with evidence, New Mexico court officials said.

Movie armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed waived her right to an arraignment on the charges in the 2021 shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the Western movie "Rust," officials said Wednesday.

A state district judge tentatively scheduled a trial for December.

A defense attorney for Gutierrez-Reed has characterized it a tragic accident and says the weapons specialist committed no crime. Prosecutors allege Gutierrez-Reed was negligent in the handling of firearms and ammunition on the set.

"Rust" safety coordinator and assistant director David Halls has pleaded no contest to a charge of unsafe handling of a firearm and received a suspended sentence of six months' probation.

In April, prosecutors dropped charges against Baldwin, who was pointing a gun at Hutchins when it went off, killing her and injuring director Joel Souza.

Charges against Alec Baldwin in the 2021 shooting death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the film "Rust" were dropped in April.

Prosecutors filed a formal notice at the time dismissing without prejudice the criminal case against Baldwin, noting "new facts were revealed that demand further investigation and forensic analysis which cannot be completed before the May 3, 2023 preliminary hearing." An investigation into the case remains "active and on-going," prosecutors then added.

Baldwin's attorneys, Luke Nikas and Alex Spiro, confirmed to USA TODAY in a statement that prosecutors in New Mexico planned to drop an involuntary manslaughter charge against the actor, who was holding the prop gun that killed Hutchins. 

"We are pleased with the decision to dismiss the case against Alec Baldwin and we encourage a proper investigation into the facts and circumstances of this tragic accident," the statement said.

Contributing: Edward Segarra and Marco della Cava, USA TODAY; Andrew Dalton, The Associated Press

More details here:Alec Baldwin manslaughter charges dropped in fatal 'Rust' shooting