Rust Armorer Hannah Gutierrez Reed Found Guilty of Involuntary Manslaughter in Death of Halyna Hutchins

Hannah Gutierrez Reed has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter.

After less than three hours of deliberations, a jury at the First Judicial District Courthouse in Santa Fe, New Mexico, found that the 26-year-old Rust armorer was liable, in part, for the on-set fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. Gutierrez Reed was acquitted of a separate charge of tampering with evidence.

In her closing argument on Wednesday, prosecutor Kari Morrissey said, "The astonishing lack of diligence with regard to gun safety is without question a significant cause of the death of Halyna Hutchins," per ABC News.

"This is not a case where Hannah Gutierrez made one mistake, and that one mistake was accidental -- putting a live round into that gun," Morrissey told jurors. "This case is about constant, neverending, safety failures that resulted in the death of a human being and nearly killed another."

Defense attorney Jason Bowles said during his closing argument that Gutierrez Reed was a "convenient fall person" and that detectives did not conduct a thorough investigation of the Oct. 2021 shooting.

Bowles told PEOPLE following the verdict that they will appeal.

Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer ordered that Gutierrez Reed be remanded into custody at the Santa Fe County Adult Detention Center following the guilty verdict. She faces up to 18 months in prison with the conviction. A sentencing date has not been set.

Attorneys Gloria Allred and John Carpenter, who represent Hutchins' parents and sister, issued the following statement after Wednesday's verdict.

“Halyna’s parents and her sister have always wanted everyone who is responsible for Halyna’s death to be held accountable," the statement read. "Today was the first trial and conviction in the criminal justice process. We are satisfied that the jury, based on the evidence, found Hannah Gutierrez-Reed guilty beyond a reasonable doubt for her part in the taking of Halyna’s life."

"We look forward to the justice system continuing to make sure that everyone else who is responsible for Halyna's death is required to face the legal consequences for their actions,” it concluded.

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Both Gutierrez Reed and Rust star/co-producer Alec Baldwin were charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter in January 2023, over the death of Hutchins, 42, from a prop gun that Baldwin, 65, was holding on the film's New Mexico set on Oct. 21, 2021. (The actor maintains that he did not pull the trigger.)

No charges will be filed related to the shooting of Rust director Joel Souza. Souza, 50, was injured in the incident, which occurred during a rehearsal on the set at Bonanza Creek Ranch in Santa Fe.

In response to the criminal charges of involuntary manslaughter and tampering with evidence filed against her, Gutierrez Reed entered a written plea of not guilty on Aug. 9, 2023.

In January 2023, Bowles and Todd J. Bullion, attorneys for Gutierrez Reed, said in a statement, "Hannah is, and has always been, very emotional and sad about this tragic accident. But she did not commit involuntary manslaughter."

"These charges are the result of a very flawed investigation, and an inaccurate understanding of the full facts," they added. "We intend to bring the full truth to light and believe Hannah will be exonerated of wrongdoing by a jury."

Baldwin was also charged with involuntary manslaughter in January 2023; however the charges were dropped three months later, delaying the criminal case.

Following his second indictment this past January, the actor was released on his personal recognizance, according to court documents.

A date of Aug. 6 was set earlier this month for Baldwin's trial, per New Mexico court documents obtained by PEOPLE. He has pled not guilty to the new charge.