The mother of General Hospital Actor Johnny Wactor described his son as a “hero” after he was shot and killed while protecting another person during a car parts robbery Sunday morning in Los Angeles. He was 37 years old.
Johnny, who played Brando Corbin in General Hospital from 2020 to 2022, he was killed when he approached a group of three masked robbers who were allegedly trying to steal a catalytic converter from his parked vehicle.
The actor’s mother, Scarlett Corbin, told USA Today that her son was unaware of the robbery when he confronted the robbers and He thought his car was being towed.
Before the incident, Scarlett said Johnny and a co-worker had left their second job at a downtown bar around 3 a.m.
She said that when Johnny approached the robbers in his car, one of the masked people pulled out a gun. The actor then “stood in front of the co-worker and they shot him,” she described.
The three robbers fled the scene.
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The Los Angeles Police Department, which did not directly name Johnny, responded to the shooting. There have been no arrests yet.
Scarlett told USA Today that the person who shot her son is “evil” and called the trio of robbers “cowards.”
“I’m grateful that person is okay,” she said of the unnamed coworker, adding that she was glad Johnny wasn’t alone when he died.
“As a parent, you never expect to bury a child,” Scarlett said.
The investigation is ongoing and Los Angeles police are still looking for suspects.
Johnny appeared in almost 200 episodes of General Hospital. He remained a recurring character in the series until 2022, when the character was cancelled.
Also appeared in NCIS, Westworld and Criminal minds, and had many other acting roles.
Wactor’s agent, David Shaul, told People magazine that Wactor “wasn’t just a talented actor” but also “a true moral example for all who knew him.”
“Throughout the ups and downs of a challenging profession, he always kept his head held high and strived to be the best he could be,” praised Shaul. “Our time with Johnny was a privilege that we would wish upon everyone. He would literally give you the shirt he’s wearing. After more than a decade together, he will forever leave a hole in our hearts.”
Catalytic converter theft
Theft of catalysts is common. The exhaust emissions control device, which is made from a variety of precious metals, including platinum, palladium and cadmium, is often stolen and resold for its valuable parts.
Last year in British Columbia alone, catalytic converter theft accounted for more than $8 million in claims to the province’s insurance corporation, ICBC. Some Canadian municipalities have encouraged drivers to burn the last eight digits of their VIN into their converters to better prevent and track theft.
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