Morgan Freeman's granddaughter has been found dead, aged 33.

Our thoughts are with Morgan Freeman and his family.

In devastating news for Academy award-winning actor Morgan Freeman, his step-granddaughter has been found dead outside her New York City apartment.

E’dena Hines was a 33-year-old aspiring actor who had just started filming a movie when she was killed in the early hours of Sunday. The cause of death was a number of stab wounds, police have confirmed.

Police have arrested a 30-year-old suspect, said to be the boyfriend of Hines, after witnesses allegedly saw the attack from their windows.

A witness to the alleged murder, 65-year-old neighbour George Hudacko, called police and recalled hearing incoherent screams during the attack, News.com.au reports.

According to Hudacko, he allegedly heard screams about the devil as the stabbing was taking place.

“Get out, devils! I cast you out, devils! In the name of Jesus Christ, I cast you out!” he allegedly heard.

Hines’ mother is the adopted daughter of 78-year-old Morgan Freeman. Freeman was married to Hines’ grandmother, Myrna Colley-Lee, from 1984-2010. Freeman issued a statement to US website Gossipcop in the hours after the alleged attack.

“The world will never know her artistry in talent, and how much she had to offer,” the statement read.

“Her friends and family were fortunate enough to have known what she meant as a person. Her star will continue to shine bright in our hearts, thoughts and prayers. May she rest in peace.”

The director of the film Hines was due to star in, Landing Up, also issued a statement in the wake of her death.

“We’re devastated. She was an amazing, incredible, loving human being,” director Daniel Tenenbaum said.

“She really touched every single person on set, crew and cast, and was such a vivid part of this whole experience. She was here, she was in our office a couple days ago and we sat and talked and filmed her.”

Hines had a self-titled blog that she frequently updated. In the last entry before her death, she mused about being named a “pistol” due to her loud, energetic personality.

She wrote that people would describe her as energetic, loud and animated, three things that are both a blessing and a curse.

She finished the blog post with a poignant statement.

“There is something beautiful in knowing you can find your stillness and be silent, but you can also be a ball of power.”

Our thoughts are with Morgan Freeman and his family.

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