'General Hospital' actor Johnny Wactor's murder: 4 gang members arrested
The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) has reportedly arrested four members of the notorious Florencia 13 gang in connection with the murder of actor Johnny Wactor. The 37-year-old General Hospital star was shot dead in May while returning to his car after a bartending shift in downtown Los Angeles. The suspects were attempting to steal his catalytic converter at the time of the incident. When Wactor confronted them, they shot him.
Suspects arrested and charged
The four suspects, identified as Robert Barceleau, Sergio Estrada, Leonel Gutierrez (all aged 18), and Frank Olano (22), were apprehended by the LAPD on Thursday afternoon (local time), CBS News reported. Barceleau, Estrada, and Gutierrez have been charged with murder, while Olano has been booked as an accessory to the crime. The LAPD has yet to respond to media requests for confirmation.
Wactor's final moments described by a co-worker
Wactor was shot as he tried to dissuade the thieves from stealing his car's catalytic converter. He was taken to a hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries. His co-worker Anita Joy, who was with him during his final moments, detailed the incident in an emotional Instagram post on May 29. "I was with Johnny in his last moments and I'm here to be his voice after such unimaginable events," she wrote.
'Nope! Shot!' were Wactor's last words
Joy, in her post, further wrote, "We were no threat and Johnny kept his cool as he always did, simply stating that it was his car and for them to leave. Hands open to his sides in peace." She said that after Wactor was shot, he fell back into her arms. "As I grabbed for him, I shouted 'Hunny you ok?!' And he only responded, 'Nope! Shot!'"
Wactor remembered for his hard work and tenacity
Wactor was best known for his role as Brando Corbin in General Hospital, which he played from 2020 to 2022. He also had several notable appearances in shows like Siberia (2013), Agent X (2015), Hollywood Girl (2010), Training Day (2017), Criminal Minds (2017), Struggling Servers (2017), Age Appropriate (2017), and NCIS (2019). His talent agent, David Shaul, paid tribute to him as someone who embodied "hard work, tenacity and a never give up attitude."
