Armorer Hannah Gutierrez appeals involuntary manslaughter conviction in Rust shooting

Former Hollywood armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed appealed her involuntary manslaughter conviction on Tuesday, for which she was sentenced to 18 months in prison.

Gutierrez, who worked as the armorer for the Alec Baldwin film "Rust," was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in March, after a gun was fired on set with a live round, which killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, and wounded director Joel Souza.

Prosecutors had accused Gutierrez of "repeatedly" failing to maintain proper firearm safety on the set, and claimed her negligence was what led to Hutchins' death. But the defense said she was a "convenient scapegoat." The jury found her guilty of involuntary manslaughter but she was acquitted of tampering with evidence.

The shot that killed Hutchins was fired by Baldwin, who was practicing a cross-draw in a church on the Western film set. Baldwin has also been charged with involuntary manslaughter for the 2021 shooting, but will not stand trial until July. He has pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Gutierrez's 18 months prison sentence is the highest possible sentence for the crime in New Mexico, where the shooting had taken place, according to ABC News.