'9-1-1' fans are in disbelief over devastating main character death: "I literally can't stop crying" (2025)

9-1-1 fans are officially in a state of emergency.

Ahead of the eventful 9-1-1: Contagion two-parter, we had a feeling the emergencies would wreak havoc on the 118, but it a gut-wrenching twist, at the end of Season 8, Episode 15, “Lab Rats,” things took a deadly turn for one of the show’s most beloved OG firefighters.

9-1-1 Season 8, Episode 15 spoilers ahead!

Fans spent weeks wondering if Chimney dies, if Bobby dies, if Peter Krause is leaving 9-1-1, and if every member of the 118 would make it out of that toxic bio lab alive. And on April 17, we finally got our answers. But at what cost?!?

After a deeply stressful, suspenseful, stomach-churning hour-long episode, fans and characters said a heartbreaking goodbye to Peter Krause’s dearly beloved character.

The great Bobby Nash was a father to all and a hero to so many. He was a deeply emotional, empathetic, ceaselessly brave, unwaveringly good man. He was a devoted husband, an inspiring fire captain, a man of faith, a role model, a friend, a chef, a hottie, and so much more. He was anything and everything people needed him to be, which is why fans are understandably WRECKED over his heartbreaking death and the devastating reactions from his wife Athena (Angela Bassett) and his fellow 118 members.

9-1-1 fans were stress tweeting their way through “Lab Rats,” fearing for the safety of every character in that lab, but after the episode wrapped, their feelings about Bobby’s death started pouring out. To paraphrase our sweet sad boy, Buck, 9-1-1 fans, sound off!

Inan interview withThe Hollywood Reporter,9-1-1co-creator and showrunner Tim Minear confirmed the “creative” decision to kill off Bobby was his own, and cast members were “shocked” when they found out. (Since the episode aired, cast members have been posting touching tributes to Krause and his character.)

“Peter and I had been talking about it for probably three weeks to a month before I let anyone else know. I had to clear it with the network and the studio. I had to pitch them out the whole story. Everyone was very nervous. And once I got everybody on board, I talked to [co-creator] Ryan Murphy about it, and once everybody was on board and Peter was on board, then I had to start calling the cast one by one. Each of those calls was a little bit different, and none of them were quick because practically nobody believed me. They all thought I was punking them. Aisha Hinds — it probably took me 15 minutes to convince her that I was not joking,” Minear said.

In two weeks,9-1-1 will return with Cap’s funeral and show the aftermath of his death and the toll it takes on those he left behind. Though some fans are still in denial, holding out hope that Bobby rises again like Oliver Stark’s script leak suggested, from the looks of things right now, it really seems like Bobby is gone.

Krause even penned a heartfelt letter of thanks to his 9-1-1 colleagues and fans, which you can read in full here. For more on Krause’s final9-1-1episode, be sure to readDecider’s Season 8, Episode 15 recap. Stay tuned for more updates, and be sure to mark your calendars for Episode 8×16 on Thursday, May 1.

New episodes of 9-1-1 premiere Thursdays on ABC with next-day streaming on Hulu.