The man fatally shot after encountering three suspects allegedly trying to steal a catalytic converter near downtown Los Angeles early Saturday was 37-year-old actor Johnny Wactor, who appeared on nearly 200 episodes of “General Hospital” from 2020-22, TMZ is reporting Sunday.
City News Service reached out to Wactor’s representatives Sunday, but they did not immediately reply.
Police said the victim observed the suspects trying to extract the catalytic converter from his vehicle at about 3 a.m. Saturday in the area of West Pico Boulevard and South Hope Street. One of the suspects fired at the victim and then the trio fled the scene, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
Paramedics rushed the shooting victim to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
No description of the suspects was immediately available.
TMZ cited Wactor’s mother Scarlett, who told the entertainment website that her son and a coworker saw three men at Johnny’s car. She said he didn’t try to stop the thieves but one of them shot him anyway.
Authorities have not identified the victim as of Sunday.
Catalytic converters are popular targets for thieves because they are rich in precious metals that can be resold.
Aside from “General Hospital,” Wactor’s other credits included “Westworld,” “The OA,” “NCIS,” “Station 19,” “Criminal Minds” and “Hollywood Girl.”
Anyone with information regarding the shooting was urged to call the LAPD’s Central Station at 213-486-6606. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or visit lacrimestoppers.org.