Leonel Gutierrez, one of four men charged in connection with the attempted robbery and murder of General Hospital actor Johnny Wactor, has pleaded guilty to all charges, including attempted robbery and grand theft, via CBS News. His guilty plea, announced Wednesday, comes just three weeks after two of his co-defendants, Robert Barceleau and Sergio Estrada, were charged with murder.
Gutierrez, who also faces an allegation of being a principal armed with a firearm, is scheduled for sentencing on Nov. 1 in Los Angeles, told ABC7. His sentence will be determined by a Los Angeles Superior Court judge. “Today marks a significant step toward justice for the family and friends of Johnny Wactor,” District Attorney Gascón said. “With one of the four defendants having pleaded guilty, we are committed to pursuing the remaining individuals with the same unwavering dedication.”
Wactor was tragically shot and killed in May after finishing a bartending shift. His killers targeted him as part of an attempted robbery while trying to steal his car’s catalytic converter. Eighteen-year-olds Barceleau and Estrada are each charged with one count of murder, while Barceleau faces an additional special circumstance allegation of killing in the commission of a robbery, which could result in life without parole. Both are also charged with attempted armed robbery and grand theft, and Barceleau is being held without bail.
A fourth suspect, Frank Olano, was charged with accessory after the fact to murder, receiving stolen property, and being a felon with a firearm.
Wactor’s death sent shockwaves through the community. His agent, David Shaul, remembered him as “a spectacular human being” and “a real moral example” to those who knew him. “Johnny was a talented actor… always striving for the best he could be,” Shaul told TheWrap. “Our time with Johnny was a privilege… he will leave a hole in our hearts forever.”
Wactor’s mother told TMZ that her son was gunned down while he and a friend witnessed three men attempting to steal the catalytic converter from his car. Anita Joy, a close friend and co-worker, shared a heartbreaking firsthand account of the night Wactor died in her arms after being shot by the fleeing thieves.
Recalling that night in a poignant Instagram post, Joy wrote: “Hands open to his sides in peace… Johnny was between me and the man who shot him… as I grabbed him, I shouted, ‘Hunny you OK?!’ And he only responded, ‘Nope! Shot!’” Despite her desperate attempts to save him, Wactor succumbed to his injuries in the dark hours of 3 a.m.
The tragedy has left the General Hospital family and fans grappling with the senseless loss of a beloved actor and friend, as the legal battle for justice continues.