‘Rust’ weapons supervisor charged with evidence tampering

Hannah Gutierrez-Reed was charged Thursday with evidence tampering
Gutierrez-Reed was the weapons supervisor in the Alec Baldwin film 'Rust'
Gutierrez-Reed's lawyer called the charge 'retaliatory'

Updated: Jun 22, 2023 / 08:53 PM CDT

FILE – This aerial photo shows the movie set of “Rust,” at Bonanza Creek Ranch, Oct. 23, 2021, in Santa Fe, N.M. Prosecutors are accusing the weapons supervisor on the film set where Alec Baldwin shot and killed a cinematographer of drinking and smoking marijuana in the evenings during the filming of “Rust,” saying she was likely hung over when she loaded a live bullet into the revolver that was used by the actor. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)

(NewsNation) — Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the weapons supervisor in the Alec Baldwin film “Rust,” was charged Thursday with evidence tampering.

Gutierrez-Reed was charged with involuntary manslaughter in the shooting death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, 42, on the New Mexico set in October 2021.

According to a new court filing, Gutierrez-Reed allegedly passed drugs to someone else on the day of the shooting, intending to prevent her own apprehension, prosecution, or conviction.

Special prosecutors appointed in the case gave no further details in a Santa Fe County court filing.

Gutierrez-Reed’s lawyer Jason Bowles called the charge retaliatory.

“It is shocking that after 20 months of investigation, the special prosecutor now throws in a completely new charge against Ms. Gutierrez-Reed, with no prior notice or any witness statements, lab reports, or evidence to support it,” Bowles said in a statement.

Gutierrez-Reed is the only remaining defendant in the case after charges of involuntary manslaughter against Baldwin were dropped.

Prosecutors can still refile charges against Baldwin.

The new charge follows allegations that Gutierrez-Reed was drinking and smoking marijuana during the filming and was potentially hungover on the day of the incident.

Gutierrez-Reed’s lawyer claims the prosecution’s case is weak and has accused them of withholding evidence.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.