A dolly grip operator testifying for the prosecution Monday said “Rust” armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed’s methods of handling on-set firearms were “out of the ordinary,” from casually carrying firearms and ammunition around in a belt to skipping industry-standard safety checks when scenes were being re-set.
Gutierrez-Reed faces charges of involuntary manslaughter and evidence tampering, with a potential prison sentence of up to three years. The trial began last week in New Mexico before a Santa Fe jury that will determine whether the 24-year-old armorer bears responsibility in the accidental shooting death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.
On Monday, state prosecutors called to the stand dolly grip operator Ross Addiego, who said he noticed how the guns used on set – in most cases “actual working firearms” and not props – were handled.