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4 people arrested in connection with the shooting of “General Hospital” actor Johnny Wactor

On Thursday afternoon, police announced arrests in connection with the shooting death of former “General Hospital” actor Johnny Wactor in May.

Later that day, the Los Angeles Police Department identified the suspects as 18-year-old Robert Barceleau, 18-year-old Leonel Gutierrez, 18-year-old Sergio Estrada and 22-year-old Frank Olano.

Barceleau, Gutierrez and Estrada were charged with murder. Officials charged Olano as an accessory to the crime.

“I want to thank the LAPD for their partnership and hard work on this case and for their continued efforts to keep Los Angeles residents safe and bring justice to victims of violence,” Mayor Karen Bass said in a statement. “Now we must ensure that those responsible for this brazen and heinous act are held fully accountable.”

The arrests come just days after Wactor’s friends and family gathered at a press conference in downtown Los Angeles to ask the public for help in finding the person or persons responsible for the actor's death.

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At a press conference on August 13, Micah Parker asks the public for help in identifying the suspects responsible for the shooting death of Johnny Wactor.

KCAL News


The former “General Hospital” star, 37, was shot dead in downtown Los Angeles on May 25. He had just finished his shift as a bartender and went to his car at Hope Street and Pico Boulevard when he was shot by suspects attempting to steal his catalytic converter.

Just over a week ago, LAPD investigators released still images of three suspects and a vehicle in connection with Wactor's killing in a renewed appeal for information.

Frustration grew among Wactor's family, friends and community members as months passed without any information about the three suspects and the murder remained unsolved.

In June, Wactor’s friend Micah Parker led a March in downtown Los Angeles to draw attention to the death of his friend.

“We want everyone with information to come forward,” Parker said.

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In June, family and friends marched in downtown Los Angeles to call on city leaders to fight crime and offer a $25,000 reward for information leading to the capture of Johnny Wactor's killers.

KCAL News


The group began their march near the crime scene and continued their march to Los Angeles City Hall, where they spoke out against violence and crime in LA

“We want our city leaders, the mayor, the [district attorney]City Council to at least admit that we have a problem so we can address it and create safer streets,” Parker said.

Two months later, at a press conference on Tuesday, Wactor's mother, Scarlett Wactor, continued to appeal to the public for information about her son's killer.

“I ask anyone who knows anything to come forward. It will help me and his brothers in our healing to know that they were captured and sentenced, and [with] the harshest punishment. So I'm asking you, please call and give them all the information you have,” said Scarlett Wactor.