Frustrated family and friends of General Hospital actor Johnny Wactor demanded that progressive Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón seek the harshest punishment for suspects who fatally shot the beloved actor.
More than 200 people gathered at the downtown Los Angeles location where the actor was shot when he and his colleague encountered three suspects trying to steal the catalytic converter from Wactor’s car on May 25.
Officials with the LA County District Attorney’s office said there are some leads in the case, but no arrests have been made so far.
Standing in front of the spot where Wactor was shot on the 1200 block of Hope Street, Wactor’s friend Micah Parker called on District Attorney George Gascón to push for the maximum sentence for the killers and for city officials to “get off the sidelines and do that.” . their jobs.”
“It’s the place to be because the city and the city’s leaders need to understand where soft-on-crime policies lead,” Parker said. ‘It leads us here. It is important to us that this story remains top of mind for his family and for his friends because we loved him and he deserves justice.”
More than 200 people marched in Downtown LA on Wednesday calling on LA County District Attorney George Gascón to demand the harshest punishment for Johnny Wactor’s killers
People at the rally criticized LA County District Attorney George Gascón for his soft-on-crime policies
Wactor, 37, played the character Brando Corbin on General Hospital from 2020 to 2022
Gascón was not present at Wednesday’s meeting, but his deputy Joseph Iniguez told participants he could not discuss how the case would be handled before arrests were made.
Shawn Smith, also an actor, criticized Gascón for not taking a tougher stance on crimes such as theft and vandalism.
“Even here in LA, we’re supposed to be the most progressive… but I can’t safely walk down the street and express myself without fear of being shot, yelled at, stabbed, or bullied,” Smith told Iniguez. “I understand that you do not want to comment on the sentence, but we do see a pattern.”
Wactor, 37, was leaving his job at a rooftop bar with a colleague in the early hours of May 25 when he saw three men trying to steal his catalytic converter.
The General Hospital star had taken a job at the new extravagant Sinners y Santos nightclub, known for its live DJs and cathedral-themed decor, including large stained glass windows and spectacular views of the LA skyline.
He continued, “When we had George Floyd [protests]someone tampered with and destroyed the subway track. The train flew off the track and people died on the train. Gascón did not follow up. Is that justice?’
Iniguez said the prosecutor’s office cannot build a case unless other law enforcement agencies present them with the evidence.
“So I understand the frustration with Mr. Gascón, and I hear it,” Iniguez said. “I want to make sure I can focus on the work our prosecutors do every day. The legal system deals with issues of bail, so that’s one you just mentioned.”
He continued: “People get out, but the justice system handles bail. “The police are investigating and doing a good job without us getting cases to prosecute even though we can’t do anything if no case is brought to us.”
A frustrated Smith responded, “I’ve heard a lot from your side about the criminals, that the criminals have stories. The criminals have stories, but the victims also have stories.
‘When will our stories matter? When are our stories important to your office?’
Nathan Hochman, who is running to replace Gascón in November, attended the event and blasted the current district attorney for his lax policies.
Hochman — a former assistant U.S. attorney general who ran as an independent — said victims can’t rely on the justice system because LA doesn’t have a prosecutor to hold criminals accountable for their actions.
Johnny Wactor was shot at close range and fell to the ground next to his vehicle, his colleague Anta Joy told DailyMail.com.
Wactor was rushed to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead
“Johnny’s situation is not about politics,” Hochman said. “It’s about actually having law enforcement in a district attorney’s office that will get the job done.
“It doesn’t matter if you’re a Democrat, an Independent or a Republican. This is about who’s going to keep this town safe, keep you and your family safe, and take over Johnny’s legacy, and his legacy, quite frankly, is to make sure there are no more Johnnys. That’s the legacy.’
He continued, “That’s what a District Attorney’s Office must absolutely commit to – not just finding these three brutal killers and bringing them to justice, but making sure we build a Los Angeles that doesn’t allow these people to steal the catalytic converter first. a converter in the first place, and did they even think they could kill someone in cold blood?’
Wactor was leaving his part-time job at a rooftop bar with a female coworker near West Pico Boulevard and South Hope Street around 3:25 a.m. Saturday when he saw the three men near his vehicle.
Grant Wactor, Johnny’s younger brother, told DailyMail.com that Johnny thought he was being dragged away, so he approached the men.
One of the men then looked up and pointed a gun at Wactor, who laid his body in front of his female colleague when he was shot, Grant Wactor said.
Anita Joy, Wactor’s colleague, said her friend saved her life when he shielded her from the gunfire. Wactor breathed his last in her arms, she told DailyMail.com.
The three suspects, who police said were all wearing masks, then fled in another car.
Johnny’s younger brother Grant, center, confirmed his death to DailyMail.com and said he wasn’t surprised to hear that his sibling put others first at the time
Wactor was shot in the chest and rushed to a nearby hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
The suspects remain at large, but Iniguez said, “We have some leads.”
Grant Wactor, who also attended Wednesday’s rally, walked with the crowd of 200 people as they marched to LA City Hall.
“Me and my family, we don’t live here. But Johnny’s friends – Johnny has roots here,” Grant Wactor said. “Johnny still has roots here and will continue to have roots here. That’s why we want it to be a safer city for them. … We want it sooner rather than later.”