New details have emerged in the death of General Hospital actor Johnny Wactor, who was gunned down early Sunday morning.
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner has confirmed that the actor’s cause of death was a gunshot wound to the chest. According to People, the manner of death has been classified as a homicide.
Johnny Wactor played Brando Corbin on General Hospital from 2020 to 2022. His other notable roles include appearances in Westworld, Criminal Minds, Siberia, and Station 19.
In the early morning hours of May 25, as he left a bartending gig, Wactor encountered three armed car thieves attempting to steal the catalytic converter from his vehicle. Tragically, he was fatally shot during the incident.
The actor’s brother, Grant, recently revealed that Wactor initially thought his vehicle was being towed. Upon discovering the situation, he shielded his co-worker by positioning her behind him.
“We’re Southern, born and raised, and we would never let a female walk to their car by herself,” Grant Wactor explained. “He came across them and he thought his truck was being towed. So he said something to the guys, like, ‘Hey, are you towing?’”
Grant added, “Then once he turned around, he saw what was happening and he put his coworker behind him. And that’s when they shot him.”
The fatal shooting occurred around 3:25 a.m. Sunday near Pico Boulevard and Hope Street. The three suspects fled and remain at large.
Johnny Wactor’s Former Fiancée Also Weighed in on His Tragic Death
Wactor’s former fiancée, Tessa Farrell, also weighed in on his death in a heartfelt Instagram post.
“If the person who did this, if you’re watching, I’m sorry, but you shot the wrong guy,” a tearful Farrell said in the video.
She pled with criminals to go straight rather than pursue a life of crime.
“You can get a real job. I know the job market’s hard but we’re all in it together. You don’t have to steal — especially take a life over it.”
Farrell also reached out to the last person to see Wactor alive, the alleged co-worker he died defending.
“I am so sorry you’re in this situation,” Farrell said.
“I can’t even imagine what it’s like to have been the one right there. You must be so scared and so sad. But if you need someone to talk to, you can talk to me.”
She also added that laws must be tightened in the Los Angeles area.
“These criminals can’t keep being on the street and they can’t keep being sent back and have no repercussions for their actions. It’s not ok, this can’t keep happening. So many lives are being lost, just us not being smart — we have to be smarter as a community,” she implored.
Meanwhile, a GoFundMe page has been established to assist the family with funeral and travel expenses.