Galen Erso
Jyn’s father’s death was no less tragic, however. After watching his wife murdered in front of him and having to abandon his hidden daughter Jyn to keep her safe from the Empire, Galen deserved a happy reunion with his daughter, but his death came first.
Jyn, Cassian and their squad discover Galen on the planet of Eadu, where he attempts to save a group of Empirical men blamed for plotting against the Empire by aiding the Rebel forces. Galen tries to spare their lives by admitting he was the one at fault, but the men are killed anyway. Cassian, originally charged with the task of killing Galen as a sniper, chooses to spare the man’s life. But then a Rebel Alliance strike force assault the planet and kill Galen.
While Galen’s death is heartbreaking, it was even more heartbreaking to see Jyn rushing to her father’s side and crying out “Papa” over and over again. What also makes this scene hard to swallow was that Jyn had spent so much effort trying to convince the Rebels that her father was worth saving and was led to believe that he would be spared. Jyn knows right away that it wasn’t Empirical forces that killed her father and it puts a rift between Jyn and Cassian.