Criminal charges announced in the death of former "General Hospital" actor Johnny Wactor

Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón announced criminal charges against multiple suspects Monday in the fatal shooting of former "General Hospital" actor Johnny Wactor.

Four men were charged in the killing, with one of the suspects facing a murder charge that comes with a potential sentence of life in prison without the chance of parole. 

Wactor, 37, was fatally shot on May 25 in downtown Los Angeles. He had just finished his bartending shift and was walking to his car on Hope Street and Pico Boulevard when he was shot and killed. The suspects were allegedly attempting to steal Wactor's catalytic converter at the time, authorities said. Wactor would have turned 38 years old on Aug. 31.   

Four arrests were made on Aug. 15 in connection with the May shooting. The suspects are 18-year-old Robert Barceleau, 18-year-old Leonel Gutierrez, 18-year-old Sergio Estrada and 22-year-old Frank Olano. 

Barceleau, of Huntington Park, was charged with murder, including a special circumstance allegation of killing in the commission of a robbery. He was also charged with attempted robbery and grand theft, both with allegations that he was armed with a firearm.

Estrada was also charged with murder but without the special circumstance allegation. He was also charged with attempted robbery and grand theft, also allegedly while armed with a firearm.

Gutierrez was charged with attempted robbery and grand theft by embezzlement, with allegations that he was armed. The fourth suspect in the case, Olano, of Inglewood, was charged with being an accessory after the fact to the killing, along with receiving stolen property and three counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm. 

"I recognize that these charges are all but a small consolation to Mr. Wactor's friends and family," Gascón said at Monday's news conference. 

"I hope that not only these charges being brought, but that the support we can continue to provide through our Bureau of Victim Services will continue to offer a small measure of comfort during these difficult times."  

Earlier in the day, Wactor's friends and advocates held their own news conference. 

"We're so thankful for all the hard work and persistence of the LAPD in capturing and gathering information for conviction of the people who murdered Johnny," said Wactor's friend, Micah Parker as he delivered a statement from the Wactor family.

The letter continued: "As a family, we anxiously await the charges of the strongest and asking to invoke all the Marcy's law enhancements, or for them to be tried in federal court. This is far from over. We are asking for all to continue to pray with the harshest penalties for these murderers. Sincerely, Scarlett Wactor and the Wactor family." 

Parker also reiterated pleas to Los Angeles leaders to make the city safer and to hold criminals responsible.  

LAPD Interim Chief Dominc Choi said at Monday's news conference that since Wactor's May 25 shooting death, there has been an "ongoing and relentless pursuit by our Los Angeles Police Department's Central Bureau homicide detectives to identify and arrest those responsible for this heinous act."

He said detectives collected fingerprints and DNA evidence from the scene, reviewed hundreds of hours of video and executed almost 50 search warrants.

"This was a very difficult case," Choi said. "Our investigators worked tirelessly to gather evidence, to interview witnesses and follow every lead to ensure no stone was left unturned."   

After the charges were announced, Moses Castillo, a victim's advocate with the "Justice for Johnny" campaign said they were not happy with the charges, particularly that no gang enhancements were filed.  

Despite the suspects' alleged gang ties, the LA District Attorney's Office hasn't filed gang enhancement charges. "This is an ongoing investigation and we will continue to evaluate the evidence as we move forward," Gascón said.  

Castillo said "I'll lend them some grace that this is an ongoing investigation, they could always amend the complaint later, and that's what we hope they do."  

All four of the suspects charged have long rap sheets. LAPD Lt. Ryan Rabbett said, "We're still digging into their backgrounds to find out exactly how far in or involved with the gang they are."