The 24-year-old armorer who worked on Rust gave a child actress a gun without checking it on a previous film set, two production sources who worked with her said.
Two sources informed The Daily Beast that Hannah Gutierrez–Reed allegedly gave an 11-year old actress a gun, without properly inspecting it, while she was filming The Old Way with Nicholas Cage.
Sources said that there were a few instances when she loaded the blanks and did it in an unsafe manner.
“She was a little careless with guns, waving it around every so often.”
Friday’s search warrant stated that GutierrezReed set up three prop guns outside the filming location. Dave Halls was the first assistant director and grabbed the gun off the cart and brought it inside. Alec Baldwin did not know that it was loaded full of live rounds.
“Cold gun!” Halls shouted “Cold gun!” Before handing the gun to Baldwin. This phrase was used to signal the crew and cast that the gun was safe to be fired for the scene, according the warrant.
Seconds later, Baldwin was filming a scene within an Old West-style Church. He apparently aimed at the camera and pulled out the trigger. Baldwin accidentally killed Halyna Houtchins while filming him and injured Joel Souza who stood behind her.

Sources on the set of Rust said the incident that killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins could be tied to the armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed

On Thursday, Halyna Hutchin was accidentally pierced by the colt pistol.

After accidentally shooting and killing a cinematographer, Alec Baldwin stands outside the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office in tears.
Sources close to the Rust family claim that the fatal incident that killed Hutchins (42), and injured Souza (48) was caused by production failures from the top.
They added that Halls, assistant director, handed Baldwin the gun and said it was safe.
One source on set stated that he was supposed to be our last line defense and that he had failed us. “He’s the last person who’s supposed to look at this firearm.”
According to a Rust production source The Daily Beast, there have been at most two instances in which guns were accidentally discharged on set by other crew members before Thursday’s tragic accident.
GutierrezReed was described as ‘inexperienced’ and ‘green’ by the source.
GutierrezReed had previously admitted that she wasn’t ready for The Old Way when she interviewed before filming began.

Hannah Gutierrez-Reed (24-year-old head armourer in charge guns on Alec Baldwin film) stated that she wasn’t sure she was ready for the job in an interview prior to filming began

Aerial view of Bonanza Creek Ranch, Santa Fe, where the movie was being shot. Workers were protesting the fact that they wouldn’t be paid to stay in Santa Fe hotels and motels, so they had to drive an hour from Albuquerque.

A search warrant released Friday said that Gutierrez-Reed laid out three prop guns on a cart outside the filming location, and first assistant director Dave Halls (pictured) grabbed the gun from the cart and brought it inside to Alec Baldwin, unaware that it was loaded with live rounds
Hannah Gutierrez Reed, who was the head armorer for The Old Way, said that she almost turned down the job because she wasn’t sure if it was right for her.
In her podcast interview, she also revealed that she found loading blanks into guns ‘the scariest’ because she didn’t know how and had sought help form her father, Thell Reed (respected gunsmith), to get over the fear.
It all happened as the film crew revealed that they had walked off the set hours prior to the fatal accident. They were concerned about safety after firearms were accidentally fired three times. Baldwin’s stunt double was the first to fire the gun, and the second time in a closed room.
Neither Halls or Gutierrez-Reed responded to DailyMail.com messages on Friday night. Despite being under investigation by police, neither has been charged nor named as a suspect in this case.
DailyMail.com exclusively learned that the gun that fired the fatal shot in the shooting was a Colt revolver of vintage design.
After the shooting, the armorer claimed the gun and the spent casing. These were turned over to the police along with other prop guns, ammunition, and ammunition.
Baldwin also removed the Western costume that he was wearing, which was stained by blood, and handed it over to police.
The warrant does not identify the model or caliber, but the film was shot in the Old West of 1880s. DailyMail.com has learned that it was a Colt.
Friday’s warrant was obtained to allow investigators to document the scene at ranch where shooting took place.
Hours before the fatal shooting, unionized workers had walked out of the set after complaining about long hours, poor conditions, and another safety incident involving ‘two misfires’ of a prop gun.
According to a source, the prop master was a non-union worker who was ‘just hired’ to replace workers who had left due to safety concerns.
It is not clear if Gutierrez-Reed was a recent addition to the production or if he was one of the crew members who remained behind after the walkoff.
However, her Instagram bio link points to an article from May about Rust, which suggests she was attached to the production for some while.
Unionized employees complained about having to stay in Albuquerque for the night – one hour from the set – and not Sante Fe, because production wouldn’t pay their hotels. Sources cited by The Los Angeles Times as well as multiple social media posts by film- and TV insiders.
They found out that locals had replaced them when they showed up to clean their belongings on Thursday.
It begs the question: Who were these local workers? What was their training? How did they check the weapon before it went to Baldwin?
Deadline also quotes an unnamed source that said that a gun had gone off in a cabin while someone was holding the gun, days before Hutchins’ shooting.
“A gun had misfired twice in a closed room. They just fired loud pops – a person was just holding it in their hands and it went off,’ they said, apparently referring to unintentional discharges.
Rust Production LLC didn’t respond to DailyMail.com’s repeated requests for comment on Friday regarding the incident. However, members of the union representing many of the crew involved in the production stated that they had expressed concerns about safety on-set.
Baldwin addressed the tragedy via Twitter on Friday. I am fully cooperating with police to investigate how this tragedy occurred. I am in touch and offering my support for her husband and his family. My heart is broken for her husband and their son, as well as all those who knew and loved Halyna.
He then tweeted a Variety article titled Alec Baldwin was Told Prop gun Was Safe Before Fatal shooting, Affidavit states.
After speaking to Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Department shortly after the shooting, he was seen looking doubled over in his grief on Thursday.
Hutchins husband shared a touching tribute for his wife on Twitter Friday. Matthew Hutchins posted a photo of his wife and their son, 9-years-old Andros, on Friday. The caption read: “Halyna instilled us all with her passion for vision, and her legacy too meaningful to be encapsulated in words.
‘Our loss is enormous, and we ask that the media please respect my family’s privacy as we process our grief. We are grateful for everyone’s sharing of images and stories about her.
His Facebook profile picture is a photo taken by the couple, who were married for 16 years. His bio now reads: “We miss your, Halyna.”
ShowBiz411 reported that a private memorial was held last night in Santa Fe with Baldwin, Andros, Matthew and Andros in attendance. According to ShowBiz411, there were also grief counselors at the service.
DailyMail.com’s husband, who was in shock, said that he had spoken to the actor on Friday morning. Alec Baldwin has been supportive of my family, he stated.

Baldwin and Hutchins are shown together on Rust’s set (circled). She uploaded an image to Instagram two days ago stating that the crew were supporting a strike by IATSE union.


Matthew Hutchins, Matthew’s husband, told DailyMail.com exclusively on Friday: “I have spoken to Alec Baldwin. He is being very supportive.
Zak Knight, a pyrotechnics and special effects engineer, said on Friday that there should never have been live rounds on a movie sets. That’s number one. Number two is that every person on a movie-set has the right to inspect any weapon before it’s fired. Number three is that there is no reason for anyone to ever be in direct contact with a weapon that is firing.

DailyMail.com legal experts say that lawsuits naming Alec Baldwin seem almost certain, but that criminal charges against Baldwin will likely focus on the person who loaded the gun.
“A barrel pointed down the lens of a movie should be seen without an operator. It is clear that this gun was pointed directly towards two people.
“We would have added a barrier between them. He said that a large number of people did not follow our protocols… each accident is a series of events.
Knight claimed that whatever happened in the hours leading to her death, it was due to a ‘cascade failures’ by many people. “We have a firm rule that no live ammunition should ever be loaded into a prop truck, or set at any given time. It’s just not possible.
“If you see bullets on a set, they are complete dummy rounds that are in no way functional. This goes back to Brandon Lee. There is protocol. Lee was also shot by another actor with a prop gun loaded with live ammunition during filming of The Crow in 1993.
Knight suggested that the accident could have been caused by differences in gun laws between New Mexico, California, and other states. California’s film sets require both a trained armourer and a prop master. These are the same standards the union adheres too.
Los Angeles will have the best and most skilled people. He said that it is impossible to guarantee this as you travel across the country.