Anita Joy, who was with Johnny Wactor when he was fatally shot in downtown Los Angeles, said the former “General Hospital” actor died in her arms after the pair “cautiously approached” suspects who appeared to be towing his car, but were actually trying to steal a catalytic converter.
“We were no threat and Johnny kept his cool as he always did, simply stating that it was his car and for them to leave, hands open to his sides in peace,” Joy, who worked with Wactor at a local bar, wrote on Instagram. “Johnny was between me and the man who shot him — as I heard the shot ring into the night, he forcefully tumbled back into my arms and as I grabbed for him, I shouted ‘hunny you ok?!’ And he only responded ‘Nope! Shot!’
“We toppled onto the street where I pushed my legs under him and tried to hold his body up while screaming for help and screaming at him to stay with me.”
According to Joy, a security guard from their workplace was nearby and ran to them while calling 911, then tied a jacked around Wactor in hopes of stopping the bleeding, and tried to perform CPR.
“It was too close range, too extreme of a wound for him to survive it but my god, he fought to stay,” Joy wrote. “I am utterly heartbroken and so very angry. My only peace is that I was with him and this didn’t happen to him alone — my only other peace will be seeing these awful men brought to justice.”
The 37-year-old actor had ended his shift as a bartender and was walking to his vehicle with Joy in the 1200 block of Hope Street, near West Pico Boulevard, at about 3:25 a.m. Saturday, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
“When Wactor arrived at his vehicle, 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 in a statement. “Without provocation, the victim was shot by one of the individuals.
“The three suspects involved were wearing all dark clothing and driving a dark colored sedan. The suspects fled northbound on Hope Street.”
Paramedics rushed Wactor to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Catalytic converters are popular targets for thieves because they are rich in precious metals that can be resold.
Wactor appeared on nearly 200 episodes of “General Hospital” from 2020-22. His other credits included “Westworld,” “The OA,” “NCIS,” “Station 19,” “Criminal Minds” and “Hollywood Girl.”
Joy wrote lovingly of Wactor in her Instagram post, writing, “My friend of 8 years went from laughing together, working side by side, leaving our bartending shift and walking to our cars, to him dying in my arms in the streets of DTLA in the dark hours of 3am.”
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“Johnny had this incredible ability that was truly just his genuine nature — to make anyone and everyone feel so special in his eyes,” she wrote. “No matter how well you knew him, he treated everyone like he truly cared about you. He lit up any room — you couldn’t not smile around him. His energy was magnetic and pulled you in so effortlessly — you were safe with him. He treated everyone with love, respect, compassion and he really ‘saw’ you. He was beautiful, goofy as hell, full of work ethic and values, he never put people down, even when joking, he never made you feel unsure of yourself — he knew how to be hilarious in such a positive way and it just made him that much more lovable.”
Anyone with information about the suspects was urged to call the LAPD’s Central Station at 213-486-6606. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or visit lacrimestoppers.org.
