Arrests, charges made in murder of Johnny Wactor

By City News Service
Two people allegedly tied to the shooting death of former “General Hospital” actor Johnny Wactor were charged with murder and other counts this week, with one of them facing a special circumstance allegation that could land him in prison without the chance of parole.
Two other suspects were hit with lesser counts.
The most serious case was filed against Robert Barceleau, 18, of Huntington Park, who was charged with murder, including a special circumstance allegation of killing in the commission of a robbery, which could lead to a life-without-parole prison term. He was also charged with attempted robbery and grand theft, both with allegations he was armed with a firearm.
Sergio Estrada, 18, was also charged with murder, but without the special circumstance allegation. He was also charged with attempted robbery and grand theft, both also allegedly while armed with a firearm.
Leonel Gutierrez, 18, was charged with attempted robbery and grand theft by embezzlement, both with allegations he was armed. The fourth suspect in the case, Frank Olano, 22, of Inglewood, was charged with being an accessory after the fact to the killing, along with receiving stolen property and three counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Wactor, 37, was shot about 3:30 a.m. May 25 while walking with a co-worker toward his parked car near Hope Street and Pico Boulevard in downtown Los Angeles after finishing his bartending shift at the nearby Level 8 bar/restaurant.
Police said the pair encountered a crew of people trying to steal the catalytic converter from Wactor’s car, and that one of them shot Wactor as he approached.
The suspects had Wactor’s vehicle raised up with a floor jack and were in the process of stealing the catalytic converter, police said, adding that Wactor was shot by one of the individuals without provocation.
The four suspects were arrested in a series of raids carried out by Los Angeles police last Thursday. All four were expected to be arraigned Monday afternoon in downtown Los Angeles.
On Monday morning, prior to the charges being announced, Wactor’s friends and family called on Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón to pursue the maximum charges and sentencing allegations against the suspects.
In a statement read on the family’s behalf outside the downtown Los Angeles courthouse, the actor’s mother said they are anxiously awaiting the “strongest” charges and all available sentencing enhancements or “for them (the suspects) to be tried in federal court.”
“This is far from over,” Scarlett Wactor said in the statement. “We are asking for all to continue to pray for the harshest penalties” for her son’s killing.
Jail records show Barceleau, Estrada and Gutierrez were being held in lieu of $2 million bail each, while Olano remained behind bars in lieu of $1 million bail.
With a poster containing a large photo of Wactor and the slogan #Justice for Johnny in the background, actor Micah Parker called on Gascón’s office Monday morning to file gun and gang enhancements for “all three suspects present in Johnny’s murder,” along with a special circumstance allegation that could result in a life prison sentence without the possibility of parole.
Wactor appeared on nearly 200 episodes of “General Hospital” from 2020-22. His other credits included “Westworld,” “The OA,” “NCIS,” “Station 19,” “Criminal Minds” and “Hollywood Girl.”