Friends and coworkers remember E'dena Hines, Morgan Freeman's granddaughter

NEW YORK (WABC) -- An up and coming actress, and the granddaughter of Morgan Freeman, was viciously murdered on a street in Manhattan.

Two actresses who worked side by side with E'dena Hines shared their shock over her death.

A police car standing vigil and a small bouquet of flowers were the only visible signs of the murder that happened on a Washington Heights block early Sunday morning.

33-year-old E'dena Hines, the granddaughter of actor Morgan Freeman, was stabbed repeatedly in the middle of the street.

George Hudazko says he heard and saw it from his third floor window.

"And I looked out the window and I saw something glint in his hand and it's going up and down, and he's still screaming, 'demons be gone' and then it went quiet," Hudazko said.

Police at the scene arrested 30-year-old Lamar Davenport, who is reported to be the victim's live-in boyfriend.

He's now charged with murder and undergoing psychiatric evaluation.

Meanwhile, shocked family and friends are trying to come to terms with the death of a young actress, first glimpsed on the red carpet at her famous grandfather's side, then in small film roles.

"We bonded from the first time we met," said Stacey Maltin, an actress.

Stacey Maltin and Marzy Hart had just completed work on an independent film with Hines, saying she gave everything to the project, shot last month in Manhattan and Brooklyn.

A playful photo of Maltin and Hines was snapped between takes on set.

"Vibrant, huge, energetic, passionate, incredibly passionate," Maltin said.

"We had some trying times on set and she was a bright light for everyone," said Hart, a co-producer.

Both women say Hines was on the verge of a promising career, only to have her life so tragically ended.

"It's heartbreaking. It doesn't feel real," Hart said.

Morgan Freeman spoke out about her tragic murder on Sunday: http://7ny.tv/1gRKZww