The Los Angeles Police Department announced the arrest of four individuals in connection with the fatal shooting of Johnny Wactor, who was killed in downtown Los Angeles in May.
The suspects, identified as 18-year-old Robert Barceleau from Huntington Park, 18-year-olds Leonel Gutierrez and Sergio Estrada from Los Angeles County, and 22-year-old Frank Olano from South Los Angeles, were taken into custody following the execution of search warrants. NewsChopper4 captured footage of the search at Olano’s South Los Angeles residence on Thursday morning.
Scarlett Wactor, Johnny Wactor’s mother, confirmed the arrests to NBC4, expressing a mix of frustration and understanding as the investigation, which has been ongoing for nearly three months, continues.
“They can’t share many details, which is frustrating but understandable,” she said. The Los Angeles Police Department expressed gratitude for her patience as they worked to gather strong evidence.
As her son’s birthday on August 31 approaches, Scarlett reflected on the loss of her “caring, compassionate” son. “They took a wonderful person from us. We miss him dearly,” she lamented.
Earlier in the week, Scarlett Wactor held a news conference where she criticized public officials, including Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón, for fostering what she described as a “pro-criminal atmosphere.” She urged the public to stay engaged and demand accountability.
“When the preliminary hearing happens, show up. Let them know we expect the strongest, stiffest penalty,” she urged.
Johnny Wactor, 37, was shot while trying to prevent three men from stealing his car’s catalytic converter. The incident occurred around 3 a.m. near the intersection of Hope Street and Pico Boulevard, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
Catalytic converters are often targeted by thieves due to the valuable metals they contain, which can be resold.
Johnny Wactor was a familiar face on “General Hospital,” where he starred for two years, and he had appeared in numerous other TV shows and films.
