In May, when Johnny Wactor discovered three masked individuals attempting to steal the catalytic converter from his Toyota Prius, one of the thieves shouted, “No!” just before his “hot-headed” accomplice shot Wactor in the chest, a detective revealed during a preliminary hearing on Monday.
New information regarding the incident was presented during the hearing for Robert Barceleau and Sergio Estrada, both 18 and charged with the murder of Wactor in downtown Los Angeles. They have entered not guilty pleas.
In a recorded jailhouse conversation intercepted by law enforcement, Estrada expressed reluctance to participate in the catalytic converter theft with Barceleau, labeling him as “hot-headed.” Estrada claimed he yelled for Barceleau not to shoot before the gun was fired, according to Det. Justin Howarth of the Los Angeles Police Department.
Barceleau, who goes by the nickname “Smalls” and stands at 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighs 110 pounds, told an informant in another recording that he shot Wactor because the actor was “going after the homie” after discovering them lifting his car to cut off the catalytic converter.
The thieves abandoned a 2-ton rapid-pump floor jack next to the Prius. Police identified fingerprints from three individuals on the jack: Barceleau, Estrada, and Leonel Gutierrez.
Gutierrez has pleaded no contest to charges of attempted robbery and grand theft. A fourth individual, Frank “Littles” Olano, has also pleaded no contest to receiving stolen property and accessory after the fact. Both Gutierrez and Olano are set for sentencing on January 15.
Olano informed an informant that he received six catalytic converters from Barceleau, Estrada, and Gutierrez on the night of Wactor’s murder.
About 20 minutes prior to the shooting, surveillance cameras operated by USC’s Department of Public Safety captured the suspects stealing a catalytic converter from another vehicle located less than two miles from where Wactor parked his 2013 Prius before heading to his bartending shift at the Level 8 lounge in the Moxy Hotel.
At around 3:20 a.m., Wactor returned to his car with his co-worker, Anita Gibney. She told police they initially thought the Prius was being towed. Upon realizing it was a theft, Gibney attempted to discreetly photograph the dark-colored sedan parked next to the Prius as Wactor confronted the thieves, as testified by LAPD Det. Keith Gonzales.
Wactor declared, “That’s my car, what are you doing?”
Gibney then reported hearing a loud snap, with Wactor stumbling back toward her. When she asked if he was alright, he replied, “Nope, I’ve been shot.”
The 37-year-old actor was declared dead 14 minutes later due to a single gunshot wound to the chest.
Approximately five hours after the shooting, Barceleau was photographed flaunting a gun with a laser sight, as revealed by Howarth. Estrada was shown with an arm around Barceleau while displaying cash in his other hand.
During a jailhouse conversation, Barceleau claimed he had given the gun used to kill Wactor to his father for disposal, Howarth testified.
Both Barceleau and Estrada are linked to the Dukes clique of the Florencia-13 gang. Barceleau also faces charges for assaulting police and leading them on a high-speed chase 11 days following Wactor’s death.
According to court documents, prosecutors stated that Barceleau was involved in burglarizing a car in South Los Angeles when two neighbors noticed the situation from their balcony.
Barceleau allegedly aimed the laser sight of his firearm at the neighbors before fleeing the scene. In a police pursuit, he drove at speeds up to 80 mph toward an LAPD cruiser while avoiding capture.
In a search warrant affidavit, Howarth indicated that law enforcement suspected Barceleau, Estrada, Gutierrez, and Olano in seven additional crimes, including a kidnapping and robbery at a cannabis dispensary in Chatsworth. The suspects are also believed to have burglarized stores, including a Melrose Avenue boutique named “Whole Lotta Cough Syrup,” as well as sneaker shops in Encino and pharmacies in Hollywood, North Hollywood, and Sun Valley, though they have not been charged in connection with these offenses.
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