Police announced Thursday that they had arrested four people in connection with the shooting death of “General Hospital” actor Johnny Wactor, who authorities said was shot and killed in May after thwarting the theft of catalytic converters.
In a statement, the Los Angeles Police Department identified the three suspects arrested on suspicion of murder as Robert Barcelo, 18, Leonel Guiterrez, 18, and Sergio Estrada, 18.
Frank Orano, 22, is accused of being an accomplice, police said.
They were arrested and evidence was discovered after the execution of search warrants across Los Angeles, the statement said.
Their bail was set at $2 million, according to jail records. It was unclear whether they had attorneys representing them.
Details about the arrest or evidence were not immediately released.
Mayor Karen Bass thanked police in a statement and said authorities must ensure that those responsible for “this brazen and heinous act” are held fully accountable.
Police said Wachter, 37, was shot and killed in the middle of the night on May 25. Wachter had just finished a shift as a bartender in downtown Los Angeles when he spotted three men using a floor jack to lift his car and steal its catalytic converter.
Police said one of the assailants shot and killed Wachter without provocation.
A friend and coworker who were with him at the time said when they first approached the car it appeared to be being towed.
“We were not a threat and Johnny, as always, kept his cool and just told us to leave as it was his car. I support peace with open arms,” his friend Anita Joy wrote on Instagram a few days after the killing.
“As gunshots rang out into the night air, he tumbled forcefully back into my arms. ‘Are you OK?’ I cried out as I grabbed him, but all he said was ‘No! I’ve been shot!'” she wrote.
Police said the suspects fled in a dark sedan. Wachter was pronounced dead at a local hospital.
A native of Charleston, South Carolina, Wachter played Brando Corbin in episode 163 of “General Hospital.” His manager recalled him as “a talented actor with a kind heart and an inspiration to those around him.”
Thieves target catalytic converters in pursuit of precious metals. Catalytic converter thefts are set to peak in 2022, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, and California Governor Gavin Newsom signed legislation to crack down on the crime.
