ABC viewers were left devastated by the 16th episode of The Rookie when it aired on Tuesday, March 19 in the USA. Zoe Anderson (played by Mercedes Mason) appeared to say her goodbyes with the character killed off in a tense, action-packed scene alongside John Nolan (Nathan Fillion). Here’s why Mercedes Mason left The Rookie after just one season and whether or not the character may return.

Mason’s character managed to wriggle free while under water, however, reemerging from the pool to shoot at Cole and his henchman.

Cole and his affiliates made their escape and, in the gunfire, a bullet hit Zoe in the neck.

Zoe fell into the pool, bleeding out, and John quickly dove in after her.

John’s valiant effort wasn’t enough to save his colleague and Zoe died in the tear-jerking scenes.

With fans still in shock at the events which unfolded show creator Alexi Hawley took to Twitter to explain the thinking behind the decision.

Hawley wrote: “It’s heartbreaking. But the stakes of this new life Nolan has chosen are all too real and we can’t run away from them creatively.

“We went back and forth about it in the writers’ room. But it ultimately felt like the most dramatic and powerful way to impact our story.”