Hannah Gutierrez-Reed: The Armorer at the Center of the Rust Tragedy

In the haunting wake of the Rust tragedy, the spotlight has turned to Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the 24-year-old armorer who oversaw the film's weapons.
"It's been a whirlwind," Gutierrez-Reed said in an exclusive interview, her voice heavy with emotion. "One moment, I'm working on a movie set, and the next, I'm at the center of a national tragedy."

As the armorer, Gutierrez-Reed was responsible for ensuring the safe handling and use of all firearms and ammunition on set. But on that fateful day in October 2021, a live round was somehow loaded into a prop gun, resulting in the tragic death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.

Gutierrez-Reed has faced immense scrutiny and criticism in the aftermath of the incident. Many have questioned her experience and qualifications, as she had only worked on a handful of film projects before Rust.

"I know I'm young, and I'm not perfect," she admitted. "But I've always taken safety seriously. I would never have put anyone at risk intentionally."

As the investigation into the tragedy continues, Gutierrez-Reed is cooperating fully with authorities. She hopes that her story will shed light on the importance of firearm safety on movie sets.

"I want people to know that this was not just an accident," she said. "There were systemic failures that led to this tragedy, and we need to work together to prevent something like this from happening again."

Gutierrez-Reed's journey from aspiring filmmaker to the center of a national tragedy is a cautionary tale about the dangers of complacency and the importance of safety protocols.

As we mourn the loss of Halyna Hutchins, we must also demand accountability and take concrete steps to ensure that such a tragedy never happens again.