Johnny Wactor's co-worker has spoken out after he was killed shielding her from a group of alleged thieves.
Days after it was reported that the actor - best known for his role as Brando Corbin in General Hospital - was fatally shot in downtown Los Angeles, Anita Joy, who was with him at the time of his death has spoken out.
Speaking to TMZ, the actor's mom Scarlett revealed that her son had just finished a shift at a nearby rooftop bar when he and Joy were allegedly met by the three masked suspects who were by his vehicle attempting to steal his catalytic converter.
The incident, which occurred on Saturday morning, resulted in Wactor being shot trying to shield his co-worker after attempting to talk to one of the men.
In a lengthy statement posted to Instagram, the worker recalled the tragic incident.
"I've needed to take some time to collect myself and my thoughts," Joy began her lengthy post on Wednesday. "I was with Johnny in his last moments and I'm here to be his voice after such unimaginable events."
"He was killed senselessly by a coward who reacted without care of the gorgeous life he was taking. So I'm angry, I'm sad and I'm all of the feelings and once... but above all, I am here for Johnny's justice."
She continued, delving into the details of the incident.
"My friend of eight years went from laughing together, working side by side, leaving our bartending shift and walking to our cars, to him dying in my arms in the streets of DTLA in the dark hours of 3am," she wrote, adding that the "basic details of this horrific story" boils down "to a few criminals trying to steal a car part."
"Everything happened in an instant," the bartender continued. "I've come to describe it as a glass of water that gets tipped over and you're scrambling to grab it and save it from spilling out completely but it just runs through your fingertips and is gone.
"'We cautiously approached the men, questioning what they were doing, at first thinking the car was being towed. We were no threat and Johnny kept his cool as he always did, simply stating that it was his car and for them to leave. Hands open to his sides in peace."
Joy also stated that the 37-year-old was stood between her and the men when he was shot.
"I heard the shot ring into the night, he forcefully tumbled back into my arms and as I grabbed for him, I shouted, 'Hunny you ok?!' And he only responded, 'Nope! Shot!'
"We toppled onto the street, where I pushed my legs under him and tried to hold his body up while screaming for help and screaming at him to stay with me."
A security guard rushed over as she screamed for help. He tried to administer CPR while tying a jacket around the wound.
'It was too close range, too extreme of a wound for him to survive it. But my God, he fought to stay," she added.
The second part of the post shifted to the 35-year-old emphasizing that she's "utterly heartbroken and so very angry."
"My only peace is that I was with him and this didn't happen to him alone," she wrote. "My only other peace will be seeing these awful men brought to justice."
In the caption, the star also put some kind words about Wactor and what a great person he was before urging followers to contribute to his family via their GoFundMe account which was linked in her bio.
|Johnny had this incredible ability that was truly just his genuine nature — to make anyone and everyone feel so special in his eyes. No matter how well you knew him, he treated everyone like he truly cared about you," she said.
Prior to Joy's post, it was confirmed that the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner determined that the actor died from a gunshot wound to the chest. His manner of death is listed as a homicide.
