- The woman who was with Johnny Wactor when he was murdered has come forward
- Anita Joy said they had just finished working at the bar when the murder happened
- Wactor, 37, was best known for his appearances on General Hospital
The woman who was with General Hospital star Johnny Wactor when he was tragically killed Saturday night recalled his heroic final moments in a heartbreaking series of Instagram posts.
Anita Joy called Wactor, 37, her friend of “eight years” and described how he “fought to stay alive” after being shot at close range as the two men walked to their car after have completed a bartending shift at level 8 in Downtown. Los Angeles.
When they approached their vehicles, they saw three men attempting to steal the catalytic converter from Wactor’s car around 3 a.m.
“It all happened in an instant. I’ve come to describe it as a glass of water spilling and you’re scrambling to catch it and keep it from completely spilling, but it just slips through your fingers and disappears,” Joy wrote.
“We cautiously approached the men, wondering what they were doing, initially thinking the car was being towed. We posed no threat and Johnny kept his cool as he always did, simply stating that it was his car and they had to leave. Hands open at his side in peace.
Wactor portrayed Brando Corbin on the ABC soap opera from 2020 to 2022. He has also appeared in a variety of films and television series, including “Station 19”, “NCIS”, “Westworld” and the video game “Call of Duty: Vanguard.” ‘
“Johnny was between me and the man who shot him. When I heard the gunshot ring out in the night, he fell hard into my arms and as I grabbed him, I screamed: “Honey, are you okay?!”
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“And he only said: ‘No! Shoot!” We fell into the street, where I pushed my legs under him and tried to hold his body upright while screaming for help and yelling for him to stay with me.
Joy went on to say that a bouncer at the bar where they worked rushed in and played, but the damage was done.
“It was too close, too extreme an injury for him to survive. But my God, he fought to stay.
Joy added that she found comfort in the fact that she was with him and that Wactor had not died alone, but added that she remained “heartbroken and therefore very angry”.
“My only other peace will be seeing these horrible men brought to justice.”
In her posts, Joy showed more photos of Wactor with the Level 8 staff, calling him “handsome, goofy as hell, full of work ethic and values.”
“Johnny had this incredible ability that was really just his true nature: making everyone feel so special to him. No matter how well you knew him, he treated everyone like he cared. really about you,” she continued.
Joy said the nickname the actor gave her was “Anita Bonita.”
“I hope the timbre of his voice saying that every time I saw him will never leave my memory. Just one look in his big blue eyes, followed by a big goofy smile, Johnny made you love him instantly. Absolutely one of the best men I have ever known.
The bartender then asked her employers to provide parking spaces for their night-shift staff for safety reasons.
In a statement to DailyMail.com, bar managers Mark and Jonnie Houston of Houston Hospitality said: “We are deeply saddened and mourn the unexpected loss of a valued and cherished team member.
“Our thoughts are with his family and friends during this incredibly difficult time.”
Earlier this week, Scarlett Wactor, the GH star’s mother, told US Weekly that she had spoken with Joy.
“(She) was kind enough to talk with me so I could ask questions. She felt like the detectives were very thorough and that reassured me. I’m glad he’s not alone,” added the grieving mother.
Scarlett went on to say that she was seeking justice for her son and didn’t want his death to become a “cold case.”
There are still no arrests for the murder.
Wactor’s agent, David Shaul, said the actor was “a true moral example to everyone who knew him.”
“Through the ups and downs of a difficult profession, he always kept his head held high and continued to strive to give his best,” Shaul said in a statement Sunday.
“Our time with Johnny was a privilege we wish on everyone. He would literally give you the shirt off his back. After over a decade together, he will forever leave a hole in our hearts.
Wactor’s murder comes just weeks after California was ranked among the 10 most dangerous states in America.
Violent crime in Los Angeles is on the rise, with the LAPD reporting a 2.9% increase at the end of March 2024, compared to the same period last year.
The LAPD reported Friday that as of the end of April, the city’s 2024 increase in murders has continued to decline, and as of April 27 it is only 4.2% higher than the number of murders reported by this time in 2023. NBC Los Angeles reported.
The last time police updated theft statistics, at the end of March 2024, thefts increased by 9.5%, according to ABC 7.
Around 600,000 catalytic converters are stolen every year. Most cars have one converter, but those with dual exhaust systems need two. Larger vehicles such as SUVs and trucks may have more than two.
According to the New York Times, stolen catalytic converters pass through “middlemen, smelters and refineries in the United States and abroad.” They can be stolen in less than a minute and cost around $1,000 to replace.