The simple mistake teenage LA ‘gangsters’ made that saw them charged with murder of General Hospital actor Johnny Wactor

The simple mistake teenage LA 'gangsters' made that saw them charged with murder of General Hospital actor Johnny Wactor

As a seasoned detective with years of experience on the force, I can’t help but feel a profound sense of sorrow and anger upon reading about the tragic death of Johnny Wactor. The details of his heroic act to shield Joy from gunfire and his final moments are truly heart-wrenching.


1. The LA gang members accused of killing “General Hospital” actor John Wactor reportedly implicated themselves in the brutal assault based on transcripts from their jail conversations, according to information provided by law enforcement officials.

18-year-olds Robert Barceleau and Sergio Estrada, associates of the Florencia 13 gang, have been indicted for murder, as well as other suspected offenses, in relation to the fatal incident involving Wactor.

37-year-old Wactor was fatally shot by robbers trying to take his catalytic converter during a theft incident near his car, which happened downtown Los Angeles on May 25. This unfortunate event occurred shortly after he finished work as a bartender at the Moxy Hotel.

Additionally, Leonel Gutierrez, age 18, and Frank Olano, aged 22, faced allegations for lesser offenses in relation to the tragic demise of the cherished actor, which authorities deemed senseless.

The profound sorrow we all share over the untimely demise of this exceptionally gifted young actor, whose career was blossoming and who held immense potential for future contributions to the global entertainment scene, was expressed by Los Angeles County District Attorney Georg Gascón in a statement on Monday.

The simple mistake teenage LA 'gangsters' made that saw them charged with murder of General Hospital actor Johnny Wactor

The simple mistake teenage LA 'gangsters' made that saw them charged with murder of General Hospital actor Johnny Wactor

Mr. Wactor’s contributions and companionship significantly impacted numerous people, leaving us deeply sympathetic towards his loved ones, acquaintances, and the broader community as they grieve this heartbreaking demise.

During an unexpected incident, I found myself face-to-face with a group of individuals, following what seemed like an attempt to tow my vehicle. Little did I know, they had raised my car after wrapping up a late-night bartending shift with my colleague and long-time friend, Anita Joy, nearby.

Witness Joy recounted that when Wactor noticed the horrifying shooting, he requested the men to depart and raised his hands to demonstrate he posed no danger. Subsequently, he was fatally wounded with a gunshot right to his chest at a very close distance.

As stated by Gascón, it is Barceleau who is suspected of having fired the shots that killed the television soap actor. The actor was subsequently transported to a hospital, where his death was confirmed, according to Gascón.

On Thursday, approximately three months after the homicide occurred, Barceleau, Gutierrez, and Estrada were detained under suspicion of murder. Additionally, Olana was apprehended on suspicion of aiding in this alleged crime of murder.

According to a search warrant, it’s been uncovered that Barceleau, more commonly known by his nickname ‘Smallz’, is affiliated with Florencia 13 – a notorious street gang based in South Los Angeles.

The simple mistake teenage LA 'gangsters' made that saw them charged with murder of General Hospital actor Johnny Wactor

The fingerprints found on the jack left at Wactor’s vehicle matched those of Barceleau, Estrada, and Gutierrez, as stated in the search warrant.

As a die-hard enthusiast, I can’t help but share the exciting news: according to reports from the Los Angeles Times, it appears that both Tripps (Gutierrez) and Prieto (Estrafa), two individuals I hold in high regard, are also members of the notorious gang. This revelation only fuels my fascination!

According to reports, Gutierrez was identified as a possible culprit in the murder due to a prominent ‘F’ tattoo on his visage, which represents Florencia, the authorities stated.

In Huntington Park, Barceleau faced charges for murder, with additional accusations that the crime involved special circumstances such as homicide during the acts of robbery, attempted robbery, and grand theft. Notably, these actions were said to have been committed while he possessed a firearm.

If convicted, the accused shooter faces life in prison without possibility of parole.  

In this case, Estrada is facing three charges:

In simpler terms, Gutierrez faced charges for an attempted robbery and grand theft, with accusations that another individual involved in the crime had a gun. On the other hand, Olano was accused of being an accomplice to a murder.

In this challenging situation we found ourselves, I firmly believe that the individuals we’ve apprehended are being appropriately charged by our team at the Los Angeles Police Department.

The simple mistake teenage LA 'gangsters' made that saw them charged with murder of General Hospital actor Johnny Wactor
The simple mistake teenage LA 'gangsters' made that saw them charged with murder of General Hospital actor Johnny Wactor

To the family and dear ones of Johnny Wactor: We understand that no legal proceeding can restore the one you’ve lost, but we trust that today’s news provides a small sense of relief, knowing that those who are at fault will be brought to justice for their actions.

On Monday outside the courthouse, Micah Parker (a fellow actor) and the organizer of ‘Justice for Johnny Wactor’ expressed their belief that no one connected to the death of Wacker should ever be allowed to go unpunished.

Parker stated, “I believe it’s unfair for the individuals who are suspected of killing Johnny to regain their freedom at any point in the future.”

Wactor sacrificed himself as a hero – according to his family, he deliberately placed himself between the gunfire and Joy to protect her.

Joy said after the shooting she asked if he was okay.

He could only respond, ‘Nope! Shot!’

Joy publicly shared on social media about his brave last moments, detailing how his longtime friend of eight years battled to remain alive until his passing.

‘Everything happened in an instant,’ she wrote of the attack.

I can say it like this: “It’s like trying to catch a spilled glass of water before it empties. You stretch out your hands, but the water slips through your fingers, vanishing before you can save it.”

She mentioned that it brings her comfort to know she was with him, and that Wactor didn’t pass away all by himself. However, she emphasized that she is still deeply saddened and extremely upset about the situation.

The simple mistake teenage LA 'gangsters' made that saw them charged with murder of General Hospital actor Johnny Wactor

‘My only other peace will be seeing these awful men brought to justice.’

Actor Wactor played Brando Corbin for 164 times on the ABC daytime drama series ‘General Hospital’, from the year 2020 up until 2022.

Additionally, he has made appearances in numerous movies and television programs, such as ‘Station 19,’ ‘NCIS,’ ‘Westworld,’ and the video game ‘Call of Duty: Vanguard.’

In March 2024, there was a significant surge in violent crimes reported in Los Angeles, as indicated by a 2.9% jump in recorded incidents when compared to the corresponding period in the previous year, according to the LAPD.

Around 600,000 catalytic converters are stolen each year.

Generally, most automobiles come with a single exhaust converter. However, vehicles sporting a twin exhaust system need two instead. Larger vehicles like SUVs and trucks might even possess more than two.

As reported by The New York Times, these stolen catalytic converters are typically sold via intermediaries, foundries, and refining facilities – both within the U.S. and abroad.

They can be stolen in under a minute and cost around $1,000 to replace.

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2024-08-20 04:37

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