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Anita Joy, the co-worker who was protected by General Hospital actor Johnny Wactor during an incident that resulted in his murder, bashed the "coward" responsible in her first public statement since his death.
"These criminals need to be caught - Level 8 needs to provide parking for their late hour staff as they originally promised- This cannot be something that isn’t responded to with action, it needs to be addressed in a manner to prevent anything like this ever happening again to the best of their ability - Level 8 needs to contribute to Johnny’s family to honor and respect him for all the hard work and effort he did for them," Joy wrote in a post tributing Wactor.
Wactor's death was caused by a gunshot wound to the chest and has been ruled as a homicide, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's Office officially announced publicly on Wednesday (May 29) via the New York Post. The 37-year-old was walking Joy, whom he worked with during a late bartending shift, back to her vehicle when he noticed three thieves at his car at around 3:25 a.m. on Saturday (May 25) in Los Angeles, his brother, Grant, told the Daily Mail.
“We’re Southern, born and raised, and we would never let a female walk to their car by herself,” Grant said. “He came across them and he thought his truck was being towed. So he said something to the guys, like, ‘Hey, are you towing?’
“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.”
Wactor was reportedly backing away and attempting to protect Joy when the men opened fire, Grant told the outlet, citing the Los Angeles Police Department's assessment of the incident. The masked thieves fled the scene in a separate vehicle and haven't been publicly identified.
“We are completely devastated,” Wactor’s grandmother, Barbara, told the Daily Mail. “He was just walking to his car. It’s senseless.”
Wactor worked as a bartender between acting gigs and was working later than expected prior to his death, his mother, Scarlett, told NBC News.
“There is a huge hole in all of us, and there is no fixing that,” Scarlett said.
Wactor is best known for his role as Brando Corbin the ABC soap opera General Hospital, appearing in 164 episodes between 2020 and 2022. The actor also made appearances on the NBC supernatural drama Siberia and made a guest appearance on the CBS crime drama Criminal Minds.
“Johnny Wactor was spectacular human being. Not just a talented actor who was committed to his craft but a real moral example to everyone who knew him. Standing for hard work, tenacity and a never give up attitude. In the highs and lows of a challenging profession he always kept his chin up and kept striving for the best he could be,” said David Shaul, a talent agent who represented the actor, in a statement to Variety. “Our time with Johnny was a privilege we would wish on everyone. He would literally give you the shirt off his back. After over a decade together, he will leave a hole in our hearts forever.”