Suspects Arrested in General Hospital Star's Murder

Four individuals have been arrested in relation to the shooting death of General Hospital actor Johnny Wactor. According to the Los Angeles Police Department, the arrests followed search warrants executed across Los Angeles on Thursday morning. The suspects, all aged between 18 and 22, include Robert Barceleau, Leonel Gutierrez, Sergio Estrada, and Frank Olano. While Olano faces charges for being an accessory, the others are charged with murder.

Reports suggest the suspects are linked to a local gang involved in a series of catalytic converter thefts. Wactor was fatally shot on May 25 after he confronted the men he suspected were attempting to steal his car's catalytic converter. Witnesses, including his coworker Anita Joy, reported that Wactor was shot when he approached the men who were allegedly tampering with his vehicle. He was pronounced dead at 37 in the hospital.

Joy, who was with Wactor at the time of the shooting, recounted the tragic event on Instagram, emphasizing her grief and hope for justice. The LAPD had previously released surveillance images of the suspects and their getaway car, a 2018 black Infiniti Q50 sedan, in an effort to find the perpetrators.

The manhunt lasted nearly three months, during which Wactor’s family and friends rallied for justice, culminating in a march through Downtown L.A. to raise awareness. The increase in catalytic converter thefts in Los Angeles has been linked to the high value of the precious metals within them.

Wactor, known for his role as Brando Corbin on General Hospital and appearances in Westworld, The OA, Criminal Minds, and Siberia, is survived by his mother and two brothers.