Peter Krause makes statement after last night's ‘9-1-1’ shocker

As for why it had to be Bobby, he explained, "The first reason is that it made sense. It didn’t feel arbitrary, because if you track the tragic arc of his character, of where he started, and how he came to LA looking for atonement, it just makes a kind of tragic sense for his character in a way it wouldn’t for another character. But also, I just didn’t want to go small. Not that any of the characters are small, but Bobby’s death affects every single character’s story in a way that really no other character death would."

To give fans a moment to recover, there will be a two-week break until the next episode.

In October 2017, through him, we began tackling topics such as grief, guilt, anger and addiction while exploring his relationship with a higher power, forgiveness and grace. On his path of healing, we watched him join and embrace both his new family at the firehouse and his new family with Athena Grant where he found love and acceptance. We also had plenty of fun along the way. It was a joy.

Humbled by working in step with our technical advisor, Chief Mike Bowman, and real firefighters, I wish to thank you all for helping me bring a sense of dignity and realism to the character in our larger-than-life emergency landscape. Your kind and complimentary words have meant the world to me.

I’ve heard that many fans are upset by this loss and they have a right to be.  It is a loss. That said, it was more than a bold creative choice on a bold show. Bobby Nash was written in sacrifice and he was built for this. First responders risk their lives on the job so that others can see another day. His story arc honors them. We at 911 salute all the incredible men and women who do these dangerous jobs and strive to keep us safe.

Our show is incredibly difficult to make at times with long hours, challenging stunts and elaborate disasters. We couldn’t do it without each other.

While we did not actually see a body, we saw a body bag, and that was done on purpose. "I felt that I couldn’t go out of this episode, particularly since we’re not going to be on for a week, with people wondering if he died or not. I didn’t want to play his death as some kind of cheap cliffhanger. So I just felt that the cold, clinical image — and it’s not just the body bag, it ends up being the security camera view of that body bag. So it’s very detached, it’s very impersonal. But then I added a final image of just that helmet sitting in the debris, and it just says '118 Captain,' and it makes you want to stop breathing," Minear shared. However, he did confirm that this episode is not the actor's final appearance this season. 

Bassett expressed to Deadline, "It was really a jaw-dropping moment when I read the script and saw that. Well, initially it was a different character, the whole bio lab. I mean, it could be anyone, it could be Chimney, it could be him, it could be Ravi. I remember Tim called. He said, someone’s going to pass away. I said, 'Is it me?' Self-preservation, you know. I went through the list, you start with yourself, but I was very surprised that it was my husband."

This has been one wild adventure. I thank you all, with all my heart.

Additionally, the actress commented that there were two different versions of the final scene, but the version that was chosen is the one she "longed for." 

There will be three more episodes of the season, all focused on Bobby's death.