'Rust' Crew Member Recalls Halyna Hutchins' Final Moments During Armorer Trial

Monday marked the third day in the trial of "Rust" armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed.

Both she and actor Alec Baldwin were charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter in connection with the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins in January 2023. A few months later, the rookie armorer was charged with tampering with evidence after prosecutors claimed she handed off a bag of cocaine before her interview with police, suggesting that she was trying to hide the fact that she was impaired on set to law enforcement officials.

Hannah Gutierrez-Reed has pleaded not guilty to both charges.

On Monday, dolly grip Ross Addiego testified that the Western film seemed to be off to a rough start. "We seemed to always be rushed and under the gun," the crew member told the jury, as per Deadline. Ross described the film as a constant "state of chaos" and noted that they were "budgetarily restricted" on set.

In order to get the production done in the two weeks they were set up in Santa Fe, Ross recalled how the crew was “moving at ludicrous speeds" and "racing the production clock” to finish filming the indie Western as fast as possible. Ross became emotional as he detailed what occurred on set when Halyna Hutchins was fatally shot on October 21, 2021.

Last Friday, the jury heard about crew members who walked off-set due to alleged unsafe conditions. Ross admitted that he was one of the few members of the crew's camera department who chose to stay behind and continue to work; however, even he admitted that "safety seemed to be secondary" on the "Rust" set.

Ross Addiego was actually in the church when the gun that actor Alec Baldwin was holding went off, killing Halyna Hutchins and injuring director Joel Souza, who had been standing behind her. The prosecution presented a glitchy video from that day in order to aid his retelling of the rehearsal scene inside the church at the Bonanza Creek Ranch.

“It went off and instantly … you know a firearm went off in a small wooden church, so the concussion, ears ringing, that moment of panic in everybody,” he explained. “I think the first person I made eye contact with was Halyna, who was clearly injured by whatever that gunshot was, that noise we had just heard. And in fact, she was starting to go flush … holding her right side.”

While Ross attended to director Joel Souza, he said that he could see the bullet poking out of the skin under Souza’s shoulder blaze. Using gauze from the set medic, he applied pressure to the entry wound while paramedics worked to stabilize Hutchins, who was flown to a trauma center in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Ross said that they were eventually notified that she had passed away from her injuries.

Although armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed was not in the room when the gun went off, Ross was questioned about her professionalism on set. During opening statements, the prosecution called Gutierrez-Reed "unprofessional and sloppy." On Monday, Ross told the jury that the rookie armorer “wasn’t necessarily as serious or professional as I’m accustomed to with the other armors that I’ve worked with. I don’t know that I’ve ever seen an armorer pull loose ammo out of a fanny pack.”

“It seemed inappropriate, out of the ordinary that those firearms weren’t secured,” Ross added. “I don’t know that they’re completely under the armorer’s control if they’re not under lock and key.” Not only was Hannah Gutierrez-Reed the armorer, but she also served as the prop master as part of the film's attempt to meet their tight budget. As a result, Ross said that firearms were often left out on carts.

During cross-examination, Gutierrez-Reed’s lawyer, Jason Bowles, noted that Ross had filed a negligence lawsuit against Alec Baldwin and “Rust” producers. He intimated that Ross had an ulterior motive; if his testimony helped convict the armorer, it could potentially help his lawsuit.

When asked if he was seeking money, Ross replied, “I’m hoping for justice, sir,” before adding, “Two people were injured on a film set. That has not only affected me – it’s affected the film industry.”

Bowles pointed out how, in his lawsuit, Ross pointed the blame at Alec Baldwin and “Rust” producers, but not Hannah Gutierrez-Reeed. Ross said that he did not create the language used in the lawsuit and referred those questions to his lawyers.

In addition to Gutierrez-Reed, Ross also found fault with first assistant director David Halls, who has pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor for negligent handling of a weapon in the case. When Ross witnessed two accidental discharges of blank rounds on set, which he says he has never seen before, he approached Halls with his concerns. Ross told the jury, “Mr. Halls ignored me and walked away.”

Jason Bowles handled most of the case on Monday, as it seems there might have been a falling out between Hannah Gutierrez-Reed and her other lawyer, Todd Bullion. The defense made a motion to have him withdraw from the case; however, it was denied by Judge Mary Marlow Sommer, as per Variety.

Judge Sommer ordered Bullion to stay on as a counsel of record but ordered him not to speak to Hannah Gutierrez-Reed “as requested by the Defendant.” A new attorney, Monica Barreras, has now joined the trial. All three refused to discuss the switch-up outside of court.