General Hospital actor Johnny Wactor’s ‘killers’ due in court to hear if they’ll face trial

The two suspects accused of killing General Hospital star Johnny Wactor in downtown Los Angeles last year are expected to learn Monday whether they will stand trial.

Robert Isaiah Barceleau and Sergio Estrada, both 18, will appear before Superior Court Judge Charlaine F. Olmedo on Monday to hear whether there is enough evidence to advance their case. FOX 11 reported.

Barceleau and Estrada are two of four people arrested and charged following the May 25, 2024, incident in which Wactor was shot and killed.

Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón said Barceleau is the one who allegedly pulled the trigger.

Barceleau and Estrada are reportedly members of the Florencia 13 gang and were both charged with murder, second-degree robbery and grand larceny.

Last month, more charges were filed against Barceleau and Estrada, alleging they committed the crime on behalf of a street gang.

As an alleged shooter, Barceleau is confronted with a special circumstance: murder during the commission of a robbery. He was also accused of personally and intentionally firing the gun that shot and killed Wactor.

The other two men, Leonel Gutierrez, 18, and Frank Olano, 22, were charged with crimes in connection with the beloved actor’s “senseless” death.

Los Angeles police previously released two images of the suspects and their getaway car (pictured above) as they appealed to the public for help identifying them

Barceleau, Gutierrez and Estrada were all served with arrest warrants for murder, while Olano was arrested for allegedly being an accessory to the crime.

Wactor, 37, was killed around 3.25am when he approached thieves who stole his car’s catalytic converter.

He had quit his part-time job at a ‘cathedral-style’ nightclub called Sinners y Santos, along with his colleague Anita Joy.

Joy, who witnessed the gruesome shooting, said Wactor asked the men to leave and held up his hands to show he was not a threat.

As they walked to their car, they saw three masked men near Wactor’s vehicle, which was on a jack.

The suspects opened fire when they saw Wactor and Joy. One bullet struck Wactor in the chest.

The actor was taken to hospital by paramedics and declared dead.

Three months after his death, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) identified the gang members as the alleged perpetrators.

Anita Joy was with Johnny Wactor when he was murdered

Gutierrez pleaded guilty to attempted robbery and grand theft in connection with the actor’s death, but denied that he was the one who actually pulled the trigger in August.

His sentencing is scheduled for January 15. None of the other suspects have yet entered a plea.

“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,” Gascón said in August 2024.

Wactor’s relatives told DailyMail.com that the actor died trying to protect Joy from the bullets.

Johnny’s younger brother Grant confirmed his death to DailyMail.com in May 2024, saying he wasn’t surprised to hear that his sibling was putting others first at the time.

Grant said they were raised as “southern gentlemen,” and that his brother’s final act was one of bravery.

Pictured: Wactor on the set of General Hospital

He told DailyMail.com: ‘We’re southern, born and bred, and we would never let a woman walk to their car alone.

“He ran into them and thought his truck was being towed. So he said something to the guys like, “Hey, are you towing?”

“And once he turned around, he saw what was happening and put his colleague behind him. And then they shot him.”