Charges expected in fatal LA shooting of actor Johnny Wactor – NBC Los Angeles

Family and friends of Johnny Wactor will gather Monday, hours before charges are expected to be filed against four suspects in connection with the shooting death of the 37-year-old actor in downtown Los Angeles in May.

Wactor's friends and family plan to speak outside the Los Angeles Criminal Court building. Actor Micah Parker, a friend of Wactor and organizer of the group #JusticeForJohnny, will be among the speakers, calling for harsh punishments for the suspects accused of killing Wactor while trying to steal a catalytic converter from the “General Hospital” actor's car.

Comments from Wactor's mother, Scarlett Wactor, will be read, the group said.

The charges in the case are expected to be announced by Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascón at a press conference at 3 p.m. LAPD Chief Dominic Choi is expected to attend the press conference.

The rally and press conference come four days after an early morning raid by Los Angeles police that resulted in four arrests in connection with the murder.

Robert Barceleau, 18, of Huntington Park; Sergio Estrada, 18; and Leonel Gutierrez, 18, who were listed only as Los Angeles County residents, were all arrested on suspicion of murder. Frank Olano, 22, of Inglewood, was arrested on a charge of accessory to murder.

Jail records show Barceleau, Gutierrez and Olano are all being held on $2 million bail. Estrada had no record in the prison system.

“They robbed us of a wonderful human being,” said Johnny Wactor's mother, Scarlett Wactor. Camilla Rambaldi reports for NBC4 News on Thursday, August 15, 2024 at 4 p.m.

The catalytic converter thieves had Wactor's car on a jack stand when he encountered them on May 25 as he was returning to the car with a friend after a shift as a bartender at the nearby bar/restaurant Level 8. Investigators said one of the men opened fire on Wactor without provocation.

Catalytic converters are a popular target for thieves because they are rich in precious metals that can be resold.

“Grief is my constant companion,” Scarlett Wactor said last week outside Los Angeles City Hall, where supporters urged anyone with information on the case to come forward. “He promised me he would be here with me today. 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, if he's going to climb. Because of what these people did, I'm not getting any of those things anymore.”

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass issued a statement after the arrests were announced on Thursday.

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

The LAPD released surveillance camera photos of the men who allegedly killed Wactor, as well as images of a suspected stolen getaway car.

Wactor appeared in nearly 200 episodes of General Hospital from 2020 to 2022. His other roles have included Westworld, The OA, NCIS, Station 19, Criminal Minds and Hollywood Girl.