Rust Armorer Seeks Release from Prison Amid New Evidence Claims

Hannah Gutierrez Reed, the convicted armorer on the "Rust" film set, is requesting immediate release from prison as her team prepares to file a motion for a new trial. Her lawyer alleges that the prosecution withheld critical evidence that could have led to a different outcome.

Hannah Gutierrez Reed, the armorer convicted in the fatal shooting on the set of the film "Rust," is requesting immediate release from prison as her legal team prepares to file a motion for a new trial. According to court documents obtained by Fox News Digital, Gutierrez Reed's lawyer, Jason Bowles, claims that the prosecution withheld "bombshell exculpatory evidence" that would have significantly altered the course of the trial.

The evidence in question is a report that allegedly shows "unexplained toolmarks on critical surfaces of the trigger and sear" of the Pietta 45 Colt revolver replica used in the shooting. Bowles argues that these marks were not the result of damage incurred during FBI impact testing and do not appear to be original manufacturing marks or use and abuse toolmarks.

Rust Armorer Seeks Release from Prison Amid New Evidence Claims

Bowles further accuses the state of withholding this report and allowing an expert to provide false testimony under cross-examination. He contends that the report would have supported Gutierrez Reed's defense theory that a firearm malfunction caused the fatal shot, not negligence on her part.

Gutierrez Reed was responsible for the firearms on the "Rust" set where cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was shot and killed on October 21, 2021. Actor Alec Baldwin was holding the gun when it discharged, killing Hutchins.

Rust Armorer Seeks Release from Prison Amid New Evidence Claims

In March, Gutierrez Reed was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and sentenced to 18 months in prison. Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer stated that Gutierrez Reed's actions constituted a "serious, violent offense" that turned a safe weapon into a lethal one.

Baldwin is also facing involuntary manslaughter charges in the case but has not yet gone to trial.

Rust Armorer Seeks Release from Prison Amid New Evidence Claims

Gutierrez Reed's trial began on February 21 and included testimony from weapons experts, FBI and Santa Fe County authorities, and crew members who witnessed the shooting. The prosecution argued that Gutierrez Reed failed to fulfill her duties as an armorer, while her defense claimed insufficient evidence for a conviction.

Fox News Digital has reached out to special prosecutors in the case for comment.

Rust Armorer Seeks Release from Prison Amid New Evidence Claims

The outcome of Gutierrez Reed's request for release and the subsequent motion for a new trial could have significant implications for Baldwin's case. If the court accepts the new evidence and grants a new trial, it could potentially alter the charges or the outcome of the proceedings.