Los Angeles police have arrested four individuals in connection with the fatal shooting of former “General Hospital” actor Johnny Wactor. The arrests were made on Thursday as part of an investigation into the incident, which occurred in the early hours of May 25.
Among those arrested were Robert Barceleau, Leonel Gutierrez, and Sergio Estrada, all 18 years old, who were booked on murder charges. Additionally, 22-year-old Frank Olano was arrested as an alleged accessory to the crime. According to reports from TMZ, the three men charged with murder are suspected members of the Florencia 13 gang. Jail records indicate that they are being held on $2 million bail each.
The arrests followed a series of search warrants executed by officers across multiple locations in Los Angeles, during which additional evidence was recovered. The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) has not yet disclosed further details about the evidence or the circumstances of the arrests.
Johnny Wactor, 37, was shot and killed while confronting thieves who were attempting to steal the catalytic converter from his vehicle. The incident took place after Wactor left work at a rooftop bar with a coworker. Police stated that Wactor interrupted the theft, prompting one of the men to fire at him without provocation. The assailants then fled the scene in a vehicle, leaving Wactor mortally wounded. He was later pronounced dead at the hospital.
On August 5, police sought the public’s assistance in identifying the suspects, releasing surveillance images of the men and their getaway car.
Wactor, originally from South Carolina, was best known for his role as Brando Corbin on the ABC soap opera “General Hospital,” where he starred from 2020 to 2022. His acting career also included appearances in “Station 19,” “NCIS,” “Westworld,” and the video game “Call of Duty: Vanguard.”
Following Wactor’s death, his agent, David Shaul, praised his perseverance and dedication to his craft. At a recent news conference, Wactor’s mother, Scarlett Wactor, expressed her deep grief over the loss of her son, sharing how his absence has profoundly impacted her life. She lamented that she would never again be able to celebrate his birthday, which would have been on August 31, or share special moments during the holidays.
