Two gang members have been charged with the murder of General Hospital star Johnny Wactor during a botched robbery.
The GH actor, best known for his role as Brando Corbin in almost 200 episodes of the ABC soap, died in May aged 37 when he was shot and killed in LA after coming across three armed thieves attempting to steal a catalytic converter from his car.
Now, following their earlier arrest, Robert Barceleau, 18, and Sergio Estrada, also 18, members of the Florencia 13 gang were both charged with murder, among other crimes, at the Los Angeles County Superior Court yesterday.
Two others, Leonel Gutierrez, 18, and Frank Olano, 22, were charged with lesser crimes related to his death.
District Attorney George Gascón said: ‘Johnny Wactor’s life was senselessly taken while he was simply walking to his parked car in downtown Los Angeles.’
‘We are committed to seeking justice for Mr. Wactor and ensuring that those responsible are held accountable for their actions.’
He continued: ‘The loss of this talented young actor, who was in the prime of his life and had so much to offer the world, is deeply felt by all of us.
‘Mr. Wactor’s work and presence touched the lives of many, and our hearts go out to his family, friends and the entire community who mourn this devastating loss.’
At the time of the incident, Wactor, who thought he was being towed, confronted the group of men who had jacked up his car after he finished a late shift as a bartender nearby.
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Robert Barceleau was accused of shooting Wactor once in the chest, and is now being held without bail. If convicted, he faces life in prison without possibility of parole.
Estrada is being held on $2,070,000 bail, Olano on $1,080,000 and Gutierrez on $120,000.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass expressed her condolences to his family and went onto thank the local police department for their work: ‘I want to thank the LAPD for their work and partnership throughout the investigation and for their continued efforts to keep Angelenos safe and to bring justice to victims of violence.’
‘We must continue to take aggressive action to make our city safer. Those who commit crimes must be held fully responsible for their actions.’
Away from General Hospital, Wactor had roles in Station 19, NCIS, Westworld and the computer game Call of Duty: Vanguard.
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