Murder Charges Filed in Fatal Shooting Case of GH Alum Johnny Wactor
Nobody saw the tragic killing of General Hospital star Johnny Wactor coming, which happened in the blink of an eye. It has deeply shocked his fans and the soap community, and watching his mum plead for justice has been heart-crushing.
But hey, there’s a light at the end of the tunnel since recent developments have seen vital progress in the case. Turns out, two of the four suspects involved in Wactor’s murder have been officially charged with his murder. Read further to know the details.
Who Are the Perpetrators?
The recent update about the General Hospital actor definitely brings a glimmer of justice to this grave situation. During a press conference, Los Angeles County prosecutors broke the news about the culprits on Monday. They announced that both Robert Barceleau and Sergio Estrada, 18, are now facing serious charges.
Moreover, District Attorney George Gascón and interim police Chief Dominic Choi revealed that Barceleau is charged with murder. It includes a special scenario for killing during a robbery, which could result in a life sentence without parole. He also faces charges of attempted robbery and grand theft and was alleged to be armed.
Meanwhile, the prosecutors have charged his partner in crime, Estrada, with murder. He faces life in prison without the special circumstances but is also up against attempted robbery and grand theft. He also faces allegations of being armed. What about the other two suspects? Leonel Gutierrez, another 18-year-old, faces charges of attempted robbery and grand theft by embezzlement.
Furthermore, the authority has charged Frank Olano, who’s twenty-two, with being an accessory after the fact to the murder. He received stolen property and multiple counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Gutierrez, Barceleau, and Estrada remain in custody with $2 million bail each, while Olano’s bail is set at $1 million.
For those not in the know, Johnny was tragically killed on May 25 in downtown Los Angeles. He and co-worker Anita Joy, who had just finished their shift at the Level 8 bar/restaurant, were heading to their cars. Suddenly, they bumped into the suspects attempting to steal the catalytic converter from Wactor’s vehicle.
They lodged the bullet straight in his chest, and Johnny died in Joy’s arms. Don’t forget to check out Soap Opera Daily to learn about the unfolding story of the General Hospital star. What are your thoughts on these recent developments? Please share your thoughts with us.
