Former "General Hospital" star Johnny Wactor was tragically shot and killed in downtown Los Angeles early Saturday morning during an alleged car theft incident, according to his mother.
"General Hospital" alum Johnny Wactor's life was cut short early Saturday morning when he was fatally shot in downtown Los Angeles during an attempted car theft, according to his mother, Scarlett Wactor.
Scarlett spoke with Fox News Digital over the phone, confirming the heartbreaking news. She revealed that Johnny was working late at a rooftop bar where he was bartending and was returning to his car around 3 or 3:30 a.m. with a co-worker when the incident occurred.
"They were walking to their car, and when they get there, Johnny's car, which was parked in front of the co-worker's looked like it was jacked to one side and from what I understand, he said, 'Hey man, you towing my car?'…And the person looked up and had a mask, and so then I guess he knew they weren't doing that, and so he stepped in front of the co-worker and then backed up and put his hands up or both, and the person shot him," Scarlett recounted.
TMZ, who first reported the news, indicated that authorities have yet to officially confirm Wactor's identity. However, the incident aligns with a reported case of three suspects attempting to steal a catalytic converter. Descriptions of the suspects remain undisclosed.
Wactor was reportedly leaving his place of employment when he came across individuals attempting to pilfer the catalytic converter from his car, as per TMZ.
Wactor's acting career began with the television series "Army Wives." He subsequently appeared in shows such as "Animal Kingdom," "Criminal Minds," and "Westworld." On "General Hospital," he played Brando Corbin for 164 episodes from 2020 to 2022. His most recent credit is in the horror anthology film "Dead Talk Tales: Volume I."
Scarlett expressed her anguish over her son's untimely demise, stating, "They took a great human being. It is leaving a very large hole in me and his brother's lives. We just buried my husband, their dad, four years ago. And he was very loved by his friends, his families. He lived life to the fullest, he chased his dreams, a very optimistic, positive person."
She added, "And the crazy thing is, he wasn't trying to stop them from taking it. They could have just left or taken it, he probably would have just given them car. They were very much a coward[ly] person…I hope they catch them, and I hope there's justice for Johnny. That's all I can hope and pray for. I will see him again. But down here on earth, it's going to be a very, very long road without him for me and his brothers."
Johnny Wactor is survived by his mother, Scarlett, and brothers Lance and Grant.
