Following the tragic death of General Hospital actor Johnny Wactor (ex-Brando) on May 26, the tributes have been pouring in from his friends and co-stars. As the investigation into the shooting continues, his family appeared on TODAY to speak out about the senseless tragedy.
Wactor’s mother, Scarlett, sat with her sons, Lance and Grant, on a video call as they spoke with reporter Morgan Chesky via a video call. After working late at his second job at a downtown L.A. bar, he was walking with a co-worker when he saw a man by his car. “Johnny thought that he was being towed,” Scarlett explained. “He said, ‘Hey man, you’re towing my car.’ And when the person looked up they had on a mask and Johnny stepped in front of the co-worker and was shot.”
Scarlett admitted that knowing her son’s last act was to protect the life of someone else is comforting. “I mean, you know, I use the word hero,” she said, “and I’m thankful that person is okay. And that when he died, he wasn’t alone.”
She also shared additional details about the crime, that there were three men who were trying to steal the catalytic converter off of Wactor’s Toyota Prius, which is sought after by thieves because of the valuable metals contained within.
Naturally, the family hopes that the killers are found and brought to justice. “I think they are cowards,” Scarlett declared. “And as a parent, you never expect to bury a child.”
Our thoughts continue to be with Wactor’s family and friends during this difficult time and we’re sure all of his GH fans will join us in wishing for justice for this senseless crime.
