Credit: Screenshot, 'General Hospital', ABCA criminal is off the street and behind bars after pleading guilty in connection with the death of a beloved ABC star.
Earlier this summer, Hollywood and the Disney/ABC family were shocked when General Hospital star Johnny Wactor was shot and killed during an attempted robbery in Los Angeles. Throughout his career, Mr. Wactor appeared in a number of films and television shows, including Army Wives, Siberia, Hollywood Girl, The Relic (2020), and Trapper’s Edge (2023). He was most well-known for his role as Brando Corbin in his long-running ABC soap opera General Hospital.
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According to reports, Wactor was leaving his bartending job in Downtown Los Angeles when he and his coworker spotted thieves trying to steal his car’s catalytic converter. The coworker said that, at first, the actor thought that his car was being towed.
However, when he realized what was happening, he chose not to confront the thieves. Instead, he calmly asked them to leave, keeping his palms open and to the side, to show that he did not want to fight.
Unfortunately, the thieves took out a gun and shot him anyway. They then fled the scene. Wactor was pronounced dead at just 37 years old.
More than two months after his shooting, the Los Angeles Police Department released details of the suspects, along with photos of the suspects and the car they were driving. Police said that, after the murder, the suspects were seen getting into a black Infinit Q-50 sedan with a tan interior. One of the suspects had two notable tattoos — one above his eye and one on his cheek.
Just two weeks later, police announced that multiple arrests had been made in connection to Mr. Wactor’s murder. Three of the men were arrested on charges of murder, and the fourth was arrested on charges of accessory to murder. The men arrested for the fatal shooting were Robert Barceleau, Leonel Gutierrez, and Sergio Estrada. Frank Olano was booked on the accessory charges.
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And now, one of those men has pleaded guilty to the charges against him.
According to a report from ABC News, Leonel Gutierrez, 18, pleaded guilty to charges of attempted robbery and grand theft. Although initially arrested for Wactor’s murder, the murder charges were not pursued since prosecutors do not believe Gutierrez was the one who shot Mr. Wactor.
He [Gutierrez] was released on $120,000 bond, and is expected to be sentenced Nov. 1.
Ahead of sentencing, the court will hear victim impact statements, the district attorney’s office said.
Gutierrez could face up to four years and eight months in prison.
According to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, all four suspects have long criminal records and have allegedly been tied to a local gang.
We continue to extend our condolences to the family and friends of Johnny Wactor.
This post originally appeared on Disney Dining.