Current:Home > ScamsPolice arrest 4 in killing of 'General Hospital' actor Johnny Wactor -Ascend Finance Compass
Police arrest 4 in killing of 'General Hospital' actor Johnny Wactor
View
Date:2025-04-14 00:53:32
Arrests have been made in the killing of "General Hospital" actor Johnny Wactor, who died in a shooting in May.
The Los Angeles Police Department announced Thursday the arrests of four suspects in the case. Three are accused of murdering the 37-year-old, who died from a gunshot wound to the chest in downtown Los Angeles on May 25, and one man is accused of being an accessory to the crime.
The LAPD's Central Bureau Homicide carried out search warrants Thursday morning, which resulted in "four people being arrested and evidence recovered," the LAPD said in a news release.
The murder suspects in the case are Robert Barceleau, Leonel Gutierrez and Sergio Estrada. Frank Olano was booked on an arrest warrant for "accessory after the fact."
According to booking records reviewed by USA TODAY, Barceleau, Gutierrez and Olano's bail is set at $2 million. Records for Estrada were not available.
Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.
Wactor, who made his TV debut in 2007 on the Lifetime drama series "Army Wives," was best known for his role as Brando Corbin on "General Hospital."
Johnny Wactor shot, killed during suspected theft attempt
Wactor was shot around 3 a.m. May 25 during an attempted catalytic converter theft in the 1200 block of Hope Street, per LAPD's May 28 news release. Officers "began to render aid" to Wactor, who was later transported to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
"Based on witness statements, Wactor had ended his shift as a bartender at a local bar and walked to his vehicle. When Wactor arrived at his vehicle, he was confronted by three individuals who had Wactor's vehicle raised up with a floor jack and were in the process of stealing the catalytic converter," LAPD reported. "Without provocation, the victim was shot by one of the individuals."
'You shot the wrong guy':Johnny Wactor's ex posts emotional video
Wactor's mother, Scarlett, reflected on her son's death in a May 26 interview with Fox News.
"What I'd like for everybody to know is that they took a great human being," Scarlett said. "He lived life to the fullest, he chased his dreams (and was) a very optimistic, positive person."
She concluded: "I hope they catch (Wactor's killers), and I hope there’s justice for Johnny. That’s all I can hope and pray for. I will see him again."
Wactor's agent, David Shaul, previously remembered the actor as a "spectacular human being" in a statement shared with Variety.
"Our time with Johnny was a privilege we would wish on everyone," Shaul said. "He would literally give you the shirt off his back. After over a decade together, he will leave a hole in our hearts forever."
Contributing: Pamela Avila, USA TODAY
veryGood! (9789)
Related
- Angelina Jolie nearly fainted making Maria Callas movie: 'My body wasn’t strong enough'
- COSRX Snail Mucin: Everything You Want to Know About the Viral Beauty Product but Were Afraid to Ask
- Love golden retrievers? Your heaven on Earth exists and it's in Vermont
- George Brown, drummer and co-founder of Kool & The Gang, dead at 74
- IRS recovers $4.7 billion in back taxes and braces for cuts with Trump and GOP in power
- US wildlife managers have no immediate plans to capture wandering Mexican gray wolf
- K-Pop star Rose joins first lady Jill Biden to talk mental health
- Death toll from floods in Kenya, Somalia and Ethiopia rises to 130
- Are Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp down? Meta says most issues resolved after outages
- As fighting surges in Myanmar, an airstrike in the west reportedly kills 11 civilians
Ranking
- Tarte Shape Tape Concealer Sells Once Every 4 Seconds: Get 50% Off Before It's Gone
- Dex Carvey, Dana Carvey's son, dies at age 32
- 'That's a first': Drone sightings caused two delays during Bengals-Ravens game
- US sanctions Iran-backed militia members in Iraq conducting strikes against American forces
- Highlights from Trump’s interview with Time magazine
- DA says gun charge dropped against NYC lawmaker seen with pistol at protest because gun did not work
- How 'Fahrenheit 451' inspires BookPeople of Moscow store to protect books and ideas
- New York appeals court temporarily lifts Trump gag order in civil fraud trial
Recommendation
Questlove charts 50 years of SNL musical hits (and misses)
From wild mustangs to reimagined housing, check out these can't-miss podcasts
Amazon lays off hundreds in its Alexa division as it plows resources into AI
Unions, Detroit casinos reach deal that could end strike
Pressure on a veteran and senator shows what’s next for those who oppose Trump
Spotify Wrapped 2023: Here's when you can get your playlist and see your stats
Judge finds Voting Rights Act violation in North Dakota redistricting for two tribes
At Formula One’s inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix, music takes a front seat