“General Hospital ”Actor Johnny Wactor's Cause of Death Revealed

Wactor was killed in the early morning hours of May 25 when he came upon thieves who were attempting to steal his catalytic converter, his brother told PEOPLE

New details have been released in the death of General Hospital actor Johnny Wactor.

The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner has determined that the actor died from a gunshot wound to the chest. His manner of death is listed as a homicide.

Wactor was fatally shot in the early morning hours of May 25 when he came upon three armed car thieves who were attempting to steal his catalytic converter from his vehicle, his brother Grant Wactor told PEOPLE.

Grant said his brother — who was working as a bartender — and a female co-worker were walking to their vehicles after their shift around 3:25 a.m. when the shooting happened.

Grant said the colleagues were approaching their vehicles when Wactor noticed his car “was jacked up or lifted in some way. He thought he was being towed.”

Grant said his brother soon realized “they were definitely not tow truck people.”

Related: General Hospital Actor Johnny Wactor's Brother Speaks Out on His Killing: 'He Was Taken Way Too Early'

Grant said Wactor, 37, put his body in front of his female colleague to protect her and had his hands up when he was shot.

“He did not confront them,” he said. “He did not try to stop them. He was just trying to diffuse the situation by stepping back.”

Grant surmised the men “weren't expecting anybody to walk up on them, so they got scared. And there's nothing more dangerous than a coward with a gun in his hand.”

After the shooting, the men fled the scene in a vehicle. Wactor was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased.

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Wactor, who was best known for his General Hospital role as Brando Corbin, also appeared in Army Wives, NCIS, The OA, Westworld, The Passenger, Station 19, Barbee Rehab, Siberia, Agent X, Vantastic, Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Girl, Training Day, Criminal Minds and more.

A GoFundMe page has been set up to help the family with funeral and travel expenses.

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