Suspect in deadly shooting of General Hospital star Johnny Wactor pleads guilty
Johnny Wactor was shot when he confronted a group of men trying to steal the catalytic converter from his parked car, according to LA investigators
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One of the four suspects charged over the shooting death of former General Hospital star Johnny Wactor has pleaded guilty the charges, according to Los Angeles authorities.
Leonel Gutierrez, 18, pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted robbery and grand theft on Wednesday, Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón announced on Thursday.
The 18-year-old is not suspected of being the person who pulled the trigger of the gun that killed Wactor, 37, during what is believed to have been a theft gone wrong.
“Today marks a significant step toward justice for the family and friends of Johnny Wactor,” District Attorney Gascón said.
“Our hearts go out to all who knew and loved him, and we recognize the profound pain his loss has caused.”
Gutierrez was released on $120,000 bond and is expected to be sentenced on November 1.
Los Angeles Police arrested the teenager along with three other suspects – Robert Barceleau, Sergio Estrada and Frank Olano – in August.
Wactor, who was a cast member on the hit hospital drama for two years, was fatally shot in a downtown LA parking lot while leaving his bartending job with a colleague at about 3.25am back on May 25.
Investigators say Wactor encountered a group of men trying to steal the catalytic converter from his parked car.
Barceleau is accused of shooting Wactor once in the chest. He died in an area hospital later that day.
For almost three months, no arrests were made – prompting Wactor's family and friends to issue public appeals for heelp in catching his killers.
As part of the investigation into Wactor’s death, law enforcement sources told The Los Angeles Times that police are looking into activity from the infamous LA gang, Florencia 13, and catalytic converter thefts across the area.