Suspects in 'General Hospital' actor Johnny Wactor's death charged with murder

Charges have been filed in the murder of “General Hospital” star Johnny Wactor, Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón announced during a press conference on Monday.

Last week, four people connected to the case were arrested: Robert Barcelau, 18; Leonel Guiterrez, 18; and Sergio Estrada were arrested on warrants for murder. A fourth person, Frank Olano, 22, was arrested on a warrant for accessory to the crime.

Barcelau is charged with one count of murder “under the special circumstances of murder during an attempted robbery and the personal use of a firearm, one count of attempted robbery with the personal use of a firearm and one count of aggravated theft with the allegation that the perpetrator was armed with a firearm,” according to a press release from the public prosecutor's office.

If convicted, Barcelau faces a life sentence without the possibility of parole.

Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascon has filed charges for the murder of “General Hospital” star Johnny Wactor. (Gilbert Carrasquillo/GC Images)

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Estrada was charged with murder because he was allegedly armed with a firearm. He was also charged with attempted robbery and grand larceny, both with a firearm. He faces a maximum sentence of life in prison.

Gutierrez was charged with attempted robbery with a firearm and grand larceny. He faces nearly five years in prison. The fourth defendant, Olano, was charged with aiding and abetting murder, receiving stolen goods and three counts of illegal possession of a firearm. He faces nearly six years in prison.

Barcelau is being held without bail, Estrada on $2,070,000 bail, Olano on $1,080,000 bail and Guiterrez on $120,000 bail. All will be arraigned later Monday.

Lt. Ryan Rabbett of the LAPD's homicide unit confirmed that the suspects are linked to the Florencia 13 gang in Los Angeles, but could not confirm or discuss the extent to which they are involved with the gang. He also confirmed that all four have “lengthy” criminal records, including as juveniles.

One of the suspects, Barcelau, is being held without bail and faces life in prison without parole if convicted. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

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Wactor was shot dead in downtown Los Angeles in the early hours of May 25 as he and a colleague left his bartending job.

In a press release obtained by Fox News Digital, the LAPD said Wactor was “confronted by three individuals” after they noticed that his car “had been lifted with a jack and they were in the process of stealing the catalytic converter.”

“Officers with the Los Angeles Police Department, Central Area, responded to a radio call reporting an assault with a deadly weapon in the 1200 block of Hope Street,” the press release states. “Upon arrival, officers located the victim, 37-year-old John William Wactor, suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. Officers began to render aid to the victim and requested emergency medical services.”

Wactor was later pronounced dead at the hospital.

The 37-year-old actor was shot dead in downtown Los Angeles in the early hours of May 25 by suspects who allegedly tried to steal the catalytic converter from his car. (Scott Kirkland/ABC via Getty Images)

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Wactor's mother, Scarlett Wacor, told Fox News Digital that Wactor and a co-worker were asked to stay late at the rooftop bar where they were working, and when they returned to their cars, he was killed.

“They went to their car and when they got there, Johnny's car, which was parked in front of the coworker's, looked like it had been jacked up on one side and from what I understand, he said, 'Hey, man, are you towing my car?' … And the person looked up and he was wearing a mask and I guess he knew they weren't doing that and so he got in front of the coworker and backed away and put his hands up or both and the person shot him,” Scarlett said.

Scarlett Wactor, the actor's mother, told Fox News Digital that her son and a colleague had just left the bar where they worked when they encountered the suspects. (Craig Sjodin/ABC via Getty Images)

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“And the crazy thing is, he didn't try to stop them from taking it. They could have just left or taken it, he probably would have just given them the car,” she added. “They were pretty cowards[ly] person…I hope they catch them and I hope Johnny gets justice. That's all I can hope and pray for. I will see him again. But down here on earth, it's going to be a very, very long road without him for me and his brothers.”

Wactor's colleague Anita Joy spoke out in the days following his death, sharing the harrowing details of the incident in an Instagram post.

“They were very cowardly[ly] person…I hope they catch her and I hope Johnny gets justice.”

— Scarlett Wactor

“Johnny was between me and the man who shot him,” she continued. “It was too close, the wound was too bad for him to survive, but my God, he fought,” she wrote. “I am utterly heartbroken and so angry. My only peace is that I was with him and that this was not happening to him alone – my only other peace will be that these horrible men are brought to justice.”

The unsolved murder of General Hospital star Johnny Wactor is the latest tragedy in the soap opera's dark history

Friends and family urged authorities to find those responsible for Wactor's death. First, a press conference was held in June and another followed in August after a public alert was issued with photos of the suspects allegedly responsible for Wactor's death.

A few weeks before their arrest, LAPD investigators released photos of the suspects allegedly connected to the General Hospital murder. Los Angeles Police Department

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“I'm asking anyone who knows anything to come forward,” Scarlett said at the August press conference, according to the Associated Press.

“My only peace is that I was with him and that this did not happen to him alone. My only other peace will be to see these terrible men brought to justice.”

— Anita Joy

“It will help me and his brothers to heal knowing that they were captured and condemned.”

“Grief is my constant companion. I can't wish him a happy birthday on August 31st. He would have turned 38. I can't ask him if he's coming home for Christmas. I can't ask him how his day was,” she said.

Johnny Wactor's mother Scarlett asked the public for help in finding her son's killers. (Damian Dovarganes)

Family of murdered “General Hospital” actor Johnny Wactor publicly asks for his killers to be found

Wactor played Brando Corbin on “General Hospital” in 164 episodes from 2020 to 2022. His other roles include “Animal Kingdom,” “Criminal Minds,” and “Westworld.”

Wactor's funeral took place in June in his home state of South Carolina. (Michael Tullberg/Getty Images)

A funeral for Wactor was held in June at Summerville Baptist Church in Summerville, South Carolina, his home state. The service was conducted by Wactor's family, including his mother, Scarlett, and his brothers, Grant and Lance.

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