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Johnny Wactor was shot and killed in downtown Los Angeles in May, and now two men have been formally charged with his murder.
Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón announced in a press release on Monday that Robert Barcelo, 18, has been charged with “one count of murder with the special circumstances of attempted robbery and committing murder during the personal use of a firearm, one count of attempted robbery with the personal use of a firearm, and one count of grand theft with alleged possession of a firearm by a principal.”
This special circumstance could mean life in prison without the possibility of parole if Barcelo is convicted.
Additionally, suspect Sergio Estrada, 18, was indicted on one count of murder for allegedly possessing a firearm, one count of attempted robbery for allegedly possessing a firearm, and one count of theft for allegedly possessing a firearm.
If convicted, Estrada could face up to life in prison.
The other two men were charged with lesser offences.
The suspect, 18-year-old Leonel Gutierrez, was charged with one count of attempted robbery “on suspicion of possessing a firearm and one count of theft on suspicion of possessing a firearm.”
Suspect Frank Orano, 22, “was charged with one count of aiding and abetting murder, one count of receiving stolen property and three counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm.”
If convicted, Olano faces five years and eight months in prison and Gutierrez faces four years and eight months.
Prior to the news, Johnny’s friends and family held a press conference downtown this morning, calling on the City of Los Angeles to take the strongest possible action against Johnny’s suspected killers.
Also ahead of the announcement, “True Crime News” host Ana Garcia spoke with Wachter’s mother, Scarlett, on “Extra,” who said she worried California law would make murder suspects “eligible for parole,” adding, “I don’t like that.”
At the time, she planned to take her case to federal court, “which is what I’m asking for, so that the defendant can get a life sentence,” she said.
Wachter was shot dead at 3 a.m. on a Los Angeles street in May as he was walking to his car with his friend, Anita Joy, after finishing his shift as a bartender. Police reported they linked the suspects to the shooting after fingerprints were found on a floor jack the suspects allegedly used to try to steal catalytic converters.
Micah Parker, a longtime friend of Johnny’s, remembered the “General Hospital” actor in an interview with “Extra.” “I don’t understand why good people get taken,” Micah said, adding, “He was a selfless person. He was the first one to help you when no one else would.”
Parker had a message for those who shot his friend: “Johnny had so much to live for and you took that away from a man. You should be ashamed and pay for the consequences.”
Micah and Scarlett have joined forces to fight for justice for Johnny and to set up a foundation to support the victim’s family.
Scarlett explained: “I’m just amazed at how helpless you feel. You don’t have answers.”
She continued, “When someone is murdered, it’s a lot harder. And he was single, he didn’t have a spouse, he didn’t have a roommate. So you have to go around and establish the facts.”
Scarlett and Micah also helped create Johnny’s Law, which helps employees who work late hours.
“There needs to be secured, guarded parking for employees who work late at night or after hours,” Scarlett said.
“They were promised safe parking, but that wasn’t given to them, so they ended up walking the streets at 3am,” Mika claimed.
But first, Johnny is preparing for what would have been his 38th birthday on August 31st.
“We’re going to invite some of his friends over and we’ll play games, have dinner and talk about Johnny,” Scarlett said.
Micah will, of course, be following the news about upcoming court hearings and pushing for the harshest sentence possible.
“The battle is not over yet. The real battle begins here,” he said.
