A tragic confrontation over an attempted car theft led to the untimely death of a television actor outside his workplace in Los Angeles.
According to The US Sun, prosecutors have upgraded charges against the alleged killers of General Hospital actor Johnny Wactor to include gang-related enhancements, significantly increasing the severity of the case.
The Los Angeles District Attorney's office has amended the complaint against 18-year-olds Robert Barceleau and Sergio Estrada, adding gang enhancement charges to their existing murder charges. The development marks a significant victory for Wactor's family, who had previously expressed concerns about the absence of gang-related charges in the case.
The amended charges specifically address the criminal nature of the group's activities. According to court documents, the prosecution alleges that Wactor's murder was executed to benefit and promote the activities of a criminal street gang. The defendants are reportedly associated with the Florencia 13 gang, though they have maintained their innocence through not-guilty pleas.
Frank Olano, 22, a third defendant in the case, now faces additional weapons charges. The prosecution has added a gun enhancement to his existing charge of accessory after the fact to murder, citing his illegal possession of a firearm following a previous felony conviction.
Leonel Gutierrez, the fourth defendant involved in the case, has already entered a guilty plea to charges of attempted robbery and grand theft. The case continues to unfold as investigators piece together the events of that fatal night.
The LA Police Department's investigation revealed that Wactor, 37, was killed in the early morning hours of May 25, 2024, after completing his shift as a bartender. The actor encountered three masked individuals attempting to steal the catalytic converter from his vehicle, which they had already raised on a jack.
Wactor's mother, Scarlett, expressed her initial frustration with the handling of the case. Speaking to ABC 7 LA, she shared the following statement:
I wish and don't understand why he wouldn't do gang enhancements. They are all clearly gang members of the same gang that will still be asked, and I am still hoping for a lot of stackable things on top of this.
The investigation gained momentum when police discovered fingerprint evidence at the crime scene, leading to the suspects' arrests on August 15 following the execution of multiple search warrants across Los Angeles.
Wactor's acting career spanned several notable productions, including a two-year stint on General Hospital from 2020 to 2022, where he portrayed the character Brando Corbin. His work extended beyond daytime television, featuring appearances in popular series such as NCIS, Criminal Minds, and Westworld.
The actor's final project, a film titled "American Sognare" directed by Luca Perito, remains in post-production. This posthumous release will serve as a lasting testament to his contributions to the entertainment industry. Barceleau now faces the possibility of life imprisonment if convicted, with the gang enhancement charges potentially extending his sentence significantly.
The murder case of Johnny Wactor has evolved from a tragic robbery gone wrong to a complex investigation involving organized gang activity. The Los Angeles District Attorney's office has strengthened its case against the defendants with the addition of gang enhancement charges and weapons violations.
The suspects, arrested after an extensive police investigation that included surveillance footage and fingerprint evidence, now face more severe consequences if convicted. As the case proceeds through the legal system, the prosecution continues to build its case around the alleged gang connections while Wactor's family awaits justice for their loved one's senseless death.
