A and E were asked if there would be a death and A and E said yes.
And that is questioned and answered for a major character all the time. I know, I read and matched it. The minor deaths are a common thing for the show.
Not necessarily. Here’s the same question type and a very telling answer from Eddy before the S3 finale (article: X)
Will there be more death in the finale?
Kitsis: Yes, there will be death. It’s just a matter of whether or not you’ll care. It could be a major character or it could be Henchman No. 4, but death will be had.
Anytime this is asked, A and E usually say yes. But a lot of times, it simply means a red-shirt. Minor deaths are common, yes, but they are still deaths and A and E still count them when they answer those type of questions.
This is kind of moot, though. Based on set photos and reports, we know it’s a major character.