Johnny Wactor’s Co-Worker Details Him Standing Between Her & The Shooter Who Took His Life In Heartbreaking Post

[Warning: Potentially Triggering Content]

Days after Johnny Wactor’s merciless killing, we’re getting the fullest picture yet about what exactly happened. And it’s coming from the woman who was by his side at the time.

In the early hours of Saturday morning, the General Hospital actor and a female co-worker were heading to their vehicles after a late-night bartending shift at Level 8 in Los Angeles. When they arrived at the lot, they noticed a group of men tinkering with his car. According to reports, they were trying to steal his catalytic converter, and they responded to Johnny confronting them about it by shooting him. Sadly, he didn’t make it. But his co-worker is now sharing exactly what happened in his final few moments.

Anita Joy, who also works at the nightlife lounge with Johnny, took to Instagram on Wednesday to share a lengthy post detailing the horrid incident. She began:

“I’ve needed a few days to collect myself before saying anything here, but I need to share his story, the support for his family and the incredible loss that a lot of us are feeling. I have started and stopped so many times with what I want to say, writhing over the details of everything, then ending it all together because it’s just too much. There has been a lot within myself of ‘what to and what not to’ share about this — but the reality is, I have a responsibility to Johnny. I am his voice now because otherwise he would have possibly been alone and he wasn’t. 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 at once…but above all, I am here for Johnny’s justice.”

She continued:

“My friend of 8 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. There are plenty of articles out now with the basic details of this horrific story which comes down to a few criminals trying to steal a car part and all they took was my friend’s life. Everything happened in an instant, I’ve come to describe it as a glass of water that gets topped 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.”

What a terrifying and heartbreaking comparison. And it really paints a picture of how bad the 37-year-old’s wound was. Anita added:

“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. Johnny was between me and the man who shot him — as I heard the shot ring into the night, he forcefully tumbled back into my arms and as I grabbed him, I shouted, ‘Hunny you ok?!’ And he only responded ‘Nope! Shot!’”

How traumatizing… She continued:

“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. One of our security guards was crossing the street shortly after and ran to us with 911 on the phone — we tied my denim jacket around him to stop the bleeding and Bryan proceeded to try CPR on him. I’m so thankful for Bryan showing up, trying with all his might to save Johnny.”

But sadly, it was an impossible task:

“It was too close range, too extreme of a wound for him to survive it but my god, he fought to stay. I am utterly heartbroken and so very angry. My only peace is that I was with him and this didn’t happen to him alone — my only other peace will be seeing these awful men brought to justice.”

We’re at a loss for words. Just such a truly awful, brutal, and senseless moment. As of now, the suspects are still at large, but the Los Angeles Police Department says an investigation is underway.

Anita added more in her caption about what a special person Johnny was, while encouraging readers to contribute to the GoFundMe his family set up to transport his body to South Carolina. See her full post, which includes a ton of pics of Johnny, (below):

https://www.instagram.com/p/C7kdGfpvAVT/?img_index=9

Our hearts remain with all of his loved ones. Rest in peace.

To learn more about the impact of gun violence, visit https://www.apha.org/topics-and-issues/gun-violence.

[Images via Anita Joy/Instagram & Nicky Nelson/WENN]