Restrepo co-director and Vanity Fair contributor Tim Hetherington, whom I met and questioned during a Lincoln Center q & a last June, has reportedly been killed in Misrata, Libya, while covering the fighting there. I suspect that if given an either-or choice, Hetherington would have opted for this while in his 60s or 70s rather than dying warm in his bed at age 87. He was a war junkie. But it’s a deeply sad thing, of course, and I’m very sorry. Sincere condolences to his friends and colleagues.

(l.) Tim Hetherington, Rachel Reid during 6.19.10 q & a at Manhattan’s Walter Reade theatre.

The initial report came from a Facebook posting by photographer Andre Liohn. Hetherington and three colleagues were hit by mortar fire.

4:29p pm Update: CNN has reported that Hetherington’s colleague Chris Hondros has died.

Previous Update: A NY Times story by C.J. Chivers reports that Hetherington’s colleague Chris Hondros, “an American working for the Getty photo agency, suffered a severe brain injury and was in extremely critical condition, according to Mr. Liohn. He had been revived and was clinging to life in the evening. A later update from Mr. Liohn said that Mr. Hondros was in a coma at the medical center, which is located near the front lines.”

Hetherington reportedly tweeted from Misrata shortly before he was killed, and described heavy fighting taking place outside the city, to wit: “In besieged Libyan city of Misrata. Indiscriminate shelling by Qaddafi forces. No sign of NATO.”

(l.) (l.) Sebastian Junger, (r.) Tim Hetherington during filming of Restrepo.