'General Hospital' actor Johnny Wactor shot to death in Los Angeles
"General Hospital" actor Johnny Wactor, who was known for playing Brando Corbin in the beloved ABC soap opera, died after being shot on Saturday.
Wactor was shot after he interrupted three male suspects who were allegedly attempting to remove a catalytic converter from his vehicle, his mother, Scarlett Wactor, told Los Angeles ABC station KABC. The incident happened around 3:25 am PT on Saturday, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
Scarlett Wactor said her son saw someone at his car after he finished work at a rooftop bar. At first, he thought his car was being towed.
As he approached his car, one of the suspects, who was wearing a mask, later opened fire at him, Wactor's mother said, adding that the police told her Wactor did not do anything wrong.
While the suspects fled to an unknown location following the shooting, Wactor was transported to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
In a statement to ABC News, Scarlett Wactor called her son "a beautiful soul."
"There are not enough words to tell what a beautiful soul he was. He was a kind loving son and brother, he lived life to the fullest. He set goals and went after them," her statement read, adding, "There is a very large hole on our hearts and lives."
The case is under investigation by the LAPD Central Division Homicide.
Investigators are still processing evidence from the scene and will begin pulling surveillance video from the streets around the scene to see if video can help tell the story of what happened, and a vehicle the suspects may have fled in, sources with knowledge of the police investigation told ABC News on Monday.
Wactor, who was 37, played a recurring character in "General Hospital" from 2020 to 2022. He has also appeared in other TV series, including "Criminal Minds," "Siberia" and "Westworld," among others. He was called "one of a kind" in a statement on the official Instagram account for "General Hospital."
"The entire General Hospital family is heartbroken to hear of Johnny Wactor's untimely passing," the statement read. "He was truly one of a kind and a pleasure to work with each and every day. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his loved ones during this difficult time."
Wactor's manager said in a statement to ABC News that he was "still processing this unfortunate and senseless tragedy."
"Johnny Wactor was such a kind soul, a talented actor and an inspiration to those around him. His professionalism, his enthusiasm and love for his craft was infectious and made him such a joy to work with. He pursued his dreams and achieved them, all the while remaining a good human being caring for others," he said. "I am proud to say I was Johnny's manager and friend. He will always be cherished in my memory."
Sofia Mattson, who plays Sasha Gilmore in "General Hospital," paid a tribute to her former co-star on the "General Hospital" IG account.
"We will miss you so much Johnny," she wrote. "One of the most incredible humans I've ever met ❤️."
TMZ was the first to report the news.
ABC News' Alex Stone contributed to this report.
