- Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner ruled his death a homicide
- Cops said Wactor was shot ‘without provocation’ as he approached his car
- Thieves jacked up his car and were stealing his catalytic converter
General Hospital star Johnny Wactor’s died from a ‘gunshot wound to the chest’, his autopsy report has confirmed.
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner on Wednesday officially ruled his death a homicide, four days after he was gunned down by car thieves.
Police hours earlier released new details of the shocking late-night shooting in South Park, Los Angeles, as they hunt the killer and two accomplices.
Wactor was walking to his car on South Hope Street near West Pico Boulevard about 3.25am on Saturday after finishing his shift as a bartender.
When he got to the car ‘he was confronted by three individuals who had Wactor’s vehicle raised up with a floor jack and were in the process of stealing the catalytic converter’, police said, citing witness statements.
‘Without provocation, the victim was shot by one of the individuals.’
The suspects, who were masks and dark clothing, got into a dark-colored sedan and fled north on Hope St, police said.
A catalytic converter regulates exhaust emission, and is typically found in the undercarriage of a vehicle.
It contains precious metals that can be sold piecemeal for a profit, particularly to auto part suppliers or scrapyards, where they are melted down for their valuables.
Wactor’s younger brother Grant earlier told DailyMail.com that the former soap star was protecting a female colleague when he was gunned down.
Believing he was being towed, Wactor approached the men to try to discuss it. One of the men then looked up and pointed a gun at Wactor, who put his body in front of his co-worker as he was shot.
Wactor was rushed to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead a short time later. The suspects remain at large.
‘He came across them and he thought his truck was being towed. So he said something to the guys, like, ‘Hey, are you towing?”‘ he said.
‘And then once he turned around, he saw what was happening and he put his coworker behind him. And that’s when they shot him.’
Grant added that cops told him Wactor did not attempt to fight the car thieves, and was backing away and trying to protect his friend when he was shot.
Wactor’s grandmother Barbara said he often picked up side gigs as a bartender. Neither she nor Grant knew which bar he was working that night.
Grant said Johnny and his co-worker had to park about two blocks from the restaurant, so they were walking to their cars after they finished their shift.
Wactor’s godmother Michaelle Kinard began a fundraiser to pay for wrapping up his affairs and bringing his body to South Carolina for burial.
The money will help his mother Scarlett and brothers Lance and Grant travel 2,000 miles from Charleston – a trip she said they would have to take several times to ensure everything was taken care of.
‘My brother was probably the hardest working person I’ve ever met in my life. He was a great brother and son,’ Grant said.
‘Anyone he touched, he made a great impact. He was as charismatic in real life as he was on camera. And he was always genuine, through and through.
‘I hope they are able to track the people who did this.’
About 600,000 catalytic converters are stolen each year. Most cars are equipped with one converter but those with a dual exhaust system require two.
Bigger vehicles like SUVs and trucks may have more than two. They cost about $1,000 to replace.
Stolen catalytic converters are passed through middlemen, smelters and refineries in the US and overseas, and can commonly be stolen less than a minute.
Wactor appeared on more than 160 episodes of General Hospital as the character Brando Corbin from 2020 to 2022.
The actor was also a series regular on the 2013 NBC drama series Siberia, which lasted 11 episodes.
He did multi-episode arcs on TV shows like The OA, The Passenger, Westworld and Hollywood Girl.
Laura Davis is an entertainment aficionado who delves into the glitz and glamour of the entertainment industry. From Hollywood to Broadway, she offers readers an insider’s perspective on the world of movies, music, and pop culture.
