Two men have been charged with murder in connection to the killing of “General Hospital” actor Johnny Wactor, the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office announced Monday.
Wachter was shot and killed on May 25 while thwarting three thieves attempting to steal a catalytic converter from his car. Police say the 37-year-old was returning home from work with a co-worker at a rooftop bar in downtown Los Angeles when he saw three men lifting his car. One of the men opened fire on Wachter without provocation, killing him, police said.
“We are all deeply saddened by the loss of this talented young actor who was in the prime of his life and had so much to offer the world,” Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascón said at a news conference.
The four suspects, Robert Barcelo, 18, Sergio Estrada, 18, Leonel Gutierrez, 18, and Frank Olano, 22, were all arrested Thursday. Gascón announced their charges today.
It is unclear whether he has already hired an attorney, and an email to the county public defender’s office seeking comment on the case was not immediately responded to.
Both Barcelo and Estrada were charged with murder, theft and attempted robbery.
Barcelo’s charges include special circumstances that could lead to life in prison without parole if convicted, including murder during attempted robbery and personal use of a firearm. Estrada’s charges carry a maximum sentence of life in prison.
Gutierrez was charged with theft and attempted robbery, while Olano was charged with being an accessory after the fact.
Wachter’s death became a rallying point for some in the city who are calling for a tougher stance in fighting crime.
Get the most important US news and highlights delivered straight to your inbox every morning
Privacy Notice: Our newsletter may contain information about charities, online advertising and externally funded content. For more information, please see our privacy policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and are subject to the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
After newsletter promotion
A group of family and friends calling themselves “Justice for Johnny” held a rally last week calling for more urgency in the investigation, and another on Monday morning calling for aggressive prosecution.
Police and public officials say that’s exactly what’s happening.
Los Angeles Police Department Interim Chief Dominic Choi said at a press conference Monday that the investigation is a “continued and relentless pursuit” of a “very difficult case.”
“I want to thank the Los Angeles Police Department for their hard work and cooperation throughout this investigation and for their efforts to keep Angelenos safe and bring justice to victims of violence,” Mayor Karen Bass said in a statement. “We must continue to act aggressively to make our city safer, and those who commit crimes must be held fully accountable for their actions.”
Barceló is being held without bail, while Estrada is being held on just over $1 million bail.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
