Johnny Wactor’s cause of death has been revealed after actor was shot and killed on Saturday, May 26 by thieves attempting to steal the catalytic convertor on his vehicle in Downtown Los Angeles.
In the death certificate obtained by TMZ on Thursday, the medical examiner cited that the star tragically passed away at the age of 37 due to a ‘gunshot wound to the chest’ – with no other contributing factors.
Following his death, Wactor’s remains were sent to his home state of South Carolina where he was cremated, with his ashes now with his mother, Scarlett, at her home.
His loved ones had requested that his body be transferred to South Carolina after he was tragically killed.
The death certificate also noted that the shooting occurred on a ‘street and/or highway,’ while officials stated he was shot by another individual – ultimately ruling his passing as a homicide.
Johnny Wactor’s cause of death has been revealed after actor was shot and killed on Saturday, May 26 by thieves attempting to steal the catalytic convertor on his vehicle in Downtown Los Angeles
The certificate also listed his occupation as ‘actor’ and added that Johnny had worked in the entertainment industry for 15 years.
On Saturday, May 26 at around 3:25am, Wactor was leaving his side-job at a ‘cathedral style’ nightclub called Sinners y Santos in Downtown LA with his co-worker, Anita Joy.
He noticed that three men – all wearing masks – were near his vehicle, which was propped up on a jack.
The star thought the car was being towed and upon approaching the assailants, one pointed his gun at the actor. Johnny put his body in the way of his female colleague to protect her, and was shot.
Wactor was transported to a hospital by paramedics, but was pronounced dead shortly after.
According to police, the three men quickly fled the scene in another vehicle. Law enforcement is still on the hunt for the men who currently remain at large.
The actor had taken up a job bartending to make ends meet, despite having battled a drinking problem, at the nightclub – just a few blocks away from where he was shot dead.
Family members previously told DailyMail.com that the ‘southern gentleman’ had been escorting a female co-worker to her vehicle at the time and shielded her with his body when a trio of thieves opened fire.
In the death certificate obtained by TMZ on Thursday, the medical examiner cited that the star tragically passed away at the age of 37 due to a ‘gunshot wound to the chest’ – with no other contributing factors; seen as Brando Corbin on General Hospital
Following his death, Wactor’s remains were sent to his home state of South Carolina where he was cremated, with his ashes now with his mother, Scarlett, at her home; seen in 2018 in Westwood
The woman has since been identified as fellow nightclub worker Anita Joy after she broke her silence in a series of heartbreaking Instagram posts Wednesday recalling his heroic final moments.
She referred to Wactor as her friend of ‘eight years’ and described how he ‘fought to stay alive’ before ultimately dying in her arms.
Now, several of his fellow actor friends have spoken further of Wactor’s ‘selflessness’, and noble nature and revealed how he had taken up a job as a bartender at the new Sinners y Santos nightclub after struggling to find roles following the strike.
Exclusive DailyMail.com photos also show the desolate spot where the star lost his life, with a tattered piece of police tape still lingering on a heavily graffitied shop front nearby.
The site of the Hope Street shooting is less than two blocks and a five-minute walk from the nightlife venue where Wactor worked.
Wactor had struggled to get acting work in recent years, with a source telling DailyMail.com he had been trying to make ends meet by working at the club.
The insider said: ‘He hadn’t worked a lot in the last three years and was trying to subsidize his income by working at a bar.
‘He was moving into the producing end of the business so he could have more control over how much he would work. Everybody liked him and the other actors and the fans were sad when his General Hospital storyline died out.’
‘He never gave up hoping he might be asked back but so far, his phone wasn’t ringing. Such is the world of soap operas.’
Wactor had struggled to get acting work in recent years, with a source telling DailyMail.com he had been trying to make ends meet by working at the club