(OurNationNews.com) -Johnny Wactor, a Hollywood actor and General Hospital star, was shot dead on May 25 in Los Angeles. The actor was only 37. Wactor was walking back to his car from his bartending shift at about 3 a.m. in the morning when his car was raised on a car jack. Three people were there attempting to steal the catalytic converter from Wactor’s vehicle.
The Los Angeles Police Department released a statement that said one of the suspects shot Wactor without being incited by the actor. The three suspects were dressed in dark clothing and escaped the scene without being apprehended. No arrests have been made for the shooting or attempted robbery. No description has been provided for the suspects involved in the crime.
Wactor is best known for his role in General Hospital where he played the character Brando in nearly 200 episodes between 2020 and 2022. Wactor also played roles on other notable shows, including “Station 19,” “Westworld,” and “NCIS.” The General Hospital X account posted a note of remembrance and provided prayers to Wactor’s closest friends and family. The post said Wactor was “one of a kind” and they enjoyed working with him during his time on the show.
Catalytic converter theft is a common occurrence because thieves can obtain high amounts for the precious metals, which includes Rhodium. The value of Rhodium was about $30,000 per ounce in 2021, but has since declined to $5,000. There were 32,000 insurance claims for stolen catalytic converters in 2021 and 45,000 in 2022. The economic uncertainty of the pandemic and high trading values caused thefts of catalytic converters to soar, but have since declined.
A March report found robberies committed with a firearm are 2.9% higher in Los Angeles than they were in March 2023. The March report also found a 2.9% increase in violent crime and a 28.1% increase in homicides compared to the previous year.
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