Johnny Wactor’s Co-Worker Says Actor Died ‘in My Arms’ After Shielding Her: ‘He Fought to Stay'

The 'General Hospital' star was fatally shot in the early hours of May 25 when he came upon thieves who were attempting to steal his catalytic converter

• General Hospital actor Johnny Wactor was killed in the early hours of May 25 when he came upon thieves who were attempting to steal his catalytic converter

• Wactor was with his co-worker Anita Joy when he was fatally shot after their bartending shift in Downtown Los Angeles

• "He was killed senselessly by a coward who reacted without care of the gorgeous life he was taking," Joy said in an Instagram post

Johnny Wactor's co-worker Anita Joy is detailing the General Hospital actor's brave final moments.

Wactor, 37, was fatally shot in the early hours of May 25 when he and Joy came upon three armed car thieves who were attempting to steal his catalytic converter from his vehicle, his brother Grant Wactor told PEOPLE.

Joy had been working alongside Wactor at Level 8 in Downtown Los Angeles before the incident, and was by his side when he died. "I've needed to take some time to collect myself and my thoughts," Joy captioned a lengthy Instagram post on Wednesday, May 29.

"I was with Johnny in his last moments and I'm here to be his voice after such unimaginable events," she added. "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."

"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 3 a.m.," Joy wrote, stating that the "basic details of this horrific story" comes down "to a few criminals trying to steal a car part."

Related: Johnny Wactor's Ex-Fiancée Tearfully Honors 'Phenomenal Actor' Following His Tragic Death: 'Such a Bright Soul'

Joy went on, "Everything happened in an instant. I've come to describe it as a glass of water that gets tipped 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."

She explained how the pair had "cautiously approached the men, questioning what they were doing, at first thinking the car was being towed" and that they "were no threat."

"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," Joy continued. "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 for him, I shouted, 'Hunny you ok?!' And he only responded, 'Nope! Shot!' "

Joy recalled Wactor toppling "onto the street," explaining how she pushed her "legs under him and tried to hold his body up while screaming for help and screaming at him to stay with me."

Joy said a security guard named Bryan, who also worked at the club, came by and called 911 before trying to perform CPR on the actor. Joy explained how she tied her denim jacket around her friend to try and "stop the bleeding," but "it was too close range" and "too extreme of a wound for him to survive it, but my god he fought to stay."

Related: Johnny Wactor’s Ex-Fiancée Still Wears Wedding Ring After His Death, Reminds Her of ‘Everlasting Love’

Joy said that she's "utterly heartbroken and so very angry," adding, "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."

In the caption of the post, which featured a photo of Wactor and Joy together, Joy said that the star "lit up any room," sharing, "No matter how well you knew him, he treated everyone like he truly cared about you."

"It just filled your heart to be around him. He called me 'Anita Bonita' and I hope the stamp of his voice saying that every time I saw him never leaves my memory," Joy added.

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PEOPLE reported on May 29 that the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner had determined that Wactor died from a gunshot wound to the chest. His manner of death is listed as a homicide.

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 set up to help his family with funeral and travel expenses has almost reached $100,000 in donations.

Joy urged her followers and Wactor's fans to donate to the page, writing at the end of her post, "If you can contribute to his family, please do - they are on the other side of the country and it's going to be a lot on them emotionally and financially to get Johnny home to them."

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