Arrests made in murder of ‘General Hospital’ star Johnny Victor.
The LAPD announced late Thursday that Central Bureau Homicide served search warrants related to the Vactor case at multiple locations in Los Angeles, resulting in the arrests of four people and the recovery of evidence.
Three men — Robert Barcelo, 18; Leonel Guiterrez, 18; and Sergio Estrada, 18 — were booked on arrest warrants for murder. The fourth man, Frank Olano, 22, was arrested on a warrant for accessory after the fact.
Vactor’s mother, Scarlett Vactor, also spoke to Fox News Digital about the arrests and said she would be given more details on Monday morning.
Arrests have been made in the shooting death of “General Hospital” star Johnny Wactor. (Gilbert Carrasquillo/GC Images)
Jonny Victor’s mother says her son’s death ‘should not be in vain’
“This is good news, I am excited,” he said, adding that he hoped the culprits would receive severe punishment. “I know some people don’t make it this far, but I am very happy,” he said.
Vactor was shot and killed in downtown Los Angeles on the morning of May 25 as he left his bartending job with a co-worker.
In a press release obtained by Fox News Digital, the LAPD said that Vactor “confronted three individuals” when he noticed his car “was lifted up with a floor jack and they were in the process of stealing the catalytic converter.” Vactor was shot and killed by one of the three.
“Officers from the Los Angeles Police Department, Central Area responded to a radio call of an assault with a deadly weapon in the 1200 block of Hope Street,” according to the release. “Upon officers’ arrival they located the victim, identified as 37-year-old John William Vactor, suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. Officers began rendering aid to the victim and requested the response of emergency medical services.”
Vactor was later pronounced dead at the hospital.
The 37-year-old actor was shot and killed in Los Angeles on the morning of May 25 after a group of men were reportedly trying to steal the catalytic converter from his car. (Scott Kirkland/ABC via Getty Images)
‘General Hospital’ actor Johnny Victor’s official cause of death revealed: coroner
Scarlett told Fox News Digital that Vactor and a co-worker were asked to stay late at the rooftop bar where they worked and were killed as they returned to their cars.
“They were walking to their car, and when they got there, Johnny’s car, which was parked in front of the coworker’s car, looked like it had been pushed to the side, and from what I understand, he said, ‘Hey, man, you towing my car?’ … And the guy looked up and he had a mask on, and so I think he knew they weren’t doing that, and so he got in front of the coworker and then backed up and put both of his hands up, and the guy shot him,” Scarlett said.
He said that there was no parking arrangement for the employees at the workplace.
“In my mind … if he had been there two minutes earlier or two minutes later, he would have been alive,” Scarlett said.
The actor’s mother, Scarlett Vactor, told Fox News Digital that her son and a co-worker were leaving the bar where he worked when they spotted the suspects. (Craig Sjodin/ABC via Getty Images)
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“And the crazy thing is he wasn’t trying to stop them from taking the car. They could have just walked away or taken the car, maybe he would have given it to them,” she added. “They were very cowardly people… I hope they catch them, and I hope there’s justice for Johnny. That’s all I can hope and pray for. I’ll see him again. But here on earth, it’s going to be a very long journey for me and his brothers without him.”
Vector’s Colleague, Anita Joy, In the days following his death she shared horrifying details of the incident.
“In my mind … if it had been two minutes earlier or two minutes later, he would have been alive.”
“I needed some time to collect myself and my thoughts. I was with Johnny in his final moments, and I’m here to be his voice after such unimaginable events,” she wrote. An Instagram post.
“He was needlessly killed by a coward who reacted without regard for the beautiful life he was taking,” she wrote in her post. “I’m angry, I’m sad, and I’m filled with all of those emotions at once, but most of all, I’m here for justice for Johnny.”
“Johnny was between me and the man who shot him,” she added. “It was too close range, too deep a wound for him to survive but oh my god, he fought to get away,” she wrote. “I am absolutely devastated and so angry. My only peace is that I was with him and this didn’t just happen to him – my only peace would be that these horrible people are brought to justice.”
Days after Vactor was shot and killed, his colleague Anita Joy, who was with him in his final moments, shared new and horrifying details about the events that led to his death. (Getty/Anita Joy Instagram)
On June 12, friends and family gathered in Los Angeles and held a press conference and march to demand answers for Vactor under the hashtag #JusticeforJohnny.
His brother, Grant Vactor, told attendees, “We want something to be done. Me and my family, we don’t live here. But Johnny’s friends – Johnny’s roots are here. Johnny’s roots are still here and will continue to be here. So, we want this to be a safe city for them. … We want it as soon as possible. We appreciate all the work that’s being done to find and apprehend all of these people, but we hope that whatever resources are available will continue to be used.”
On August 4, the LAPD issued a community alert. Photos of the suspects They are believed to be responsible for the deaths of vectors.
Police described the stolen vehicle as a black 2018 Infiniti Q50 four-door car with a brown interior.
LAPD detectives released photos of suspects connected to the May 25 murder of “General Hospital” star Johnny Wactor. (LAPD)
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Following the release of photos of the suspects, family and friends of Scarlett and Vactor asked citizens for help in the search at an event Tuesday.
“I request that anyone who knows anything about this to please come forward,” Scarlett said. The Associated Press.
“My only peace would be that I was with her and it wasn’t just her that it happened to – my only peace would be seeing these horrible people brought to justice.”
“Myself and his brothers will be relieved to know he has been caught and convicted.”
“Grief is my constant companion. I can’t wish him a happy birthday on August 31 when he will be 38 by then. I can’t ask if he is coming home for Christmas. I can’t even ask how his day was,” she said.
Johnny Vactor’s mother, Scarlett, asks the public for help in finding her son’s killers. (Damien Dauvergnes)
Wachter played Brando Corbin on “General Hospital” for 164 episodes from 2020-22. His other credits include “Animal Kingdom”, “Criminal Minds” and “Westworld”.
The funeral was performed A prayer service was held for Wachter in June at the Summerville Baptist Church in his home state of Summerville, South Carolina. The service was organized by Wachter’s family, including his mother Scarlett and his brothers Grant and Lance.
Scarlett previously told Fox News Digital that her son’s death “should not be in vain.”
“That whole town needs to change, which I can’t even vote for or do anything about, but it’s going to take a lot of persistent effort and pressure until that place changes,” she said from her home in South Carolina.
Wactor’s funeral was held in June in his home state of South Carolina. (Michael Tullberg/Getty Images)
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“I mean, it’s sad, but I want it to be safe for other people who live there. Nobody else needs to die, even though I know I can’t stop everything. I want to see some changes because of this.”
