S Poddar
Four arrested in Los Angeles after American actor Johnny Wactor was shot and killed while trying to prevent the theft. The actor, 37, known for his role on soap opera General Hospital, died after confronting three suspects who allegedly were trying to steal a catalytic converter from his car.
The suspects have since been identified as Robert Barceleau, Leonel Gutierrez, and Sergio Estrada, who stand charged with murder. A fourth man, Frank Olano, stands charged as an accessory to murder, according to local authorities.
The incident occurred at about the early hours of May 25, shortly after Wactor had just completed a shift working as a bartender in downtown Los Angeles. He got to his car, which was already hoisted up with a floor jack; the suspects were right in the process of removing its catalytic converter. Next thing, and without warning, one of the suspects fired a shot into Wactor, killing him.
Wactor’s brother, Grant, called him one of the most charismatic people he had ever known. The producers at General Hospital paid homage to Wactor, calling him “truly one of a kind” and a pleasure to work with.
Apart from his two-year portrayal of Brando Corbin on General Hospital, Wactor also starred in the 2013 NBC series Siberia and played roles in HBO’s Westworld.
Thefts of catalytic converters have surged in Los Angeles, with thousands being reported stolen annually. Part of a car’s exhaust system, catalytic converters are highly valued because they contain precious metals. That has been accentuated by the large number of hybrid vehicles on the roads, whose converters had less wear than those in gasoline-only vehicles. The issue grew much more pronounced during the pandemic, in which, driven by a shortage, their value rocketed.
