Exclusive Interview: Johnny Wactor's Mother Seeks Justice for Her Son's Tragic Murder

GettyImages-1433275242 Johnny Wactor at Silent River premiere

Johnny Wactor Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Curious Potato

Scarlett Wactor, Johnny Wactor's mom, is opening up about her son's unfortunate passing.

"He was wearing a mask, like a bandana," Scarlett revealed exclusively to We on Wednesday, May 29. "As soon as he noticed, he realized something was off and that's when he bravely shielded his coworker."

Scarlett revealed on Sunday, May 26, that her son Johnny was tragically killed in Los Angeles. The former General Hospital actor was shot after he and his coworker caught three men trying to steal his catalytic converter. According to a coroner’s report confirmed by Us on Wednesday, Johnny's death was ruled a homicide. He was 37 years old.

In a conversation with Us, Scarlett shared that after Johnny's passing, she was able to speak with his coworker who was with him at the time of the shooting. According to his mother, Johnny believed his car was being towed initially, which led him to approach the vehicle.

Scarlett explained that the car was jacked to one side, positioned next to his car, with one person crouched low. She mentioned that he calmly asked, "Hey, man, are you towing my car?" She believed he was not angry. The person then raised his hands and stepped back, but unfortunately, they shot him.

Scarlett shared that the commotion caught the attention of a security guard from the bar as he was heading to his car. The security guard quickly made his way to the scene and immediately dialed 911. Within two to three minutes, an ambulance arrived at the location.

Johnny Wactor

Gilbert Carrasquillo/GC Images

Scarlett mentioned that Johnny's coworker appeared to be doing fine after the incident. She shared, "She was very kind in answering my questions." Scarlett also mentioned that the coworker felt reassured by the thoroughness of the detectives, which gave Scarlett a sense of comfort.

Scarlett expressed her relief that Johnny was not by himself during the incident.

Scarlett mentioned that she had a conversation with L.A. City Councilman Kevin de Leon, who is advocating for detectives to utilize overtime pay in order to crack the case.

She acknowledged that while the police are moving forward with the investigation, it will require some time to fully unravel.

She asked the police if they had any leads, and they mentioned they have a few but emphasized that it's a process. They also pointed out that there are cameras surrounding the crime scene, which could help detectives with their investigation.

Scarlett thinks that Johnny would have willingly given the assailants the car. She expressed her belief that they took away a wonderful person for no reason.

"He was such a bright light for anyone and everyone, offering help to anyone," she shared, referring to the outpouring of love for Johnny.

Adding to the family's sadness, Scarlett's three sons lost their father just months before Johnny's passing.

Months before Johnny passed away, the Wactor family experienced the loss of their father figure. This double loss has been especially tough on Scarlett and her other sons.

"It's been heartbreaking to see my boys go through this again," Scarlett shared. "They were supposed to be by each other's side for years to come, not facing this kind of pain."

“Everything is in god’s hands and I will see my son again,” she added. “I want justice. I don’t want it to be a cold case.”

With reporting by Andrea Simpson

Editor's P/S:

The tragic passing of Johnny