When Johnny Wactor discovered three masked folks making an attempt to steal the catalytic converter from his Toyota Prius final May, one of many thieves yelled “No!” earlier than his “hothead” associate fired a single shot into the “General Hospital” actor’s chest, a detective testified Monday.
New particulars in regards to the case emerged throughout the preliminary listening to for Robert Barceleau and Sergio Estrada, accused of killing Wactor in downtown Los Angeles. The defendants, each 18, have pleaded not responsible.
In a jail dialog secretly recorded by authorities, Estrada mentioned he did not wish to “work” stealing catalytic converters with Barceleau, whom he known as “hotheaded,” Det. mentioned. Justin Howarth of the Los Angeles Police Department. Estrada claimed he yelled at Barceleau to not shoot earlier than Barceleau pulled the set off, Howarth mentioned.
Nicknamed “Smalls,” the 5-foot-6-inch, 110-pound Barceleau instructed an informant in a separate recording that he shot Wactor as a result of the actor was “chasing the buddy” after he discovered them lifting his slicing machine the catalyst. converter, Howarth mentioned.
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Wactor’s killers left a 2-ton rapid-pump jack subsequent to the Prius. According to the testimony, the police discovered the fingerprints of three males on the jack: Barceleau, Estrada and Leonel Gutierrez.
Gutierrez pleaded no contest to tried theft and grand larceny. A fourth defendant, Frank “Littles” Olano, pleaded no contest to receiving stolen property and paraphernalia after the very fact. Gutierrez and Olano can be sentenced on January 15.
Olano instructed an informant that he obtained six catalytic converters from Barceleau, Estrada and Gutierrez the night time Wactor was killed, Howarth testified.
About 20 minutes earlier than the killing, cameras operated by the USC Department of Public Safety captured the suspects stealing the catalytic converter from a automotive lower than two miles from the place Wactor had parked his 2013 Prius earlier than driving to a makeshift bar within the Level 8 lounge on the Moxy Hotel.
Around 3:20 a.m., Wactor returned to his automotive with a colleague, Anita Gibney, who instructed police they initially thought the Prius had been towed. When they realized it was a theft, Gibney tried to discreetly take {a photograph} of the dark-colored sedan parked subsequent to the Prius whereas Wactor confronted the thieves, LAPD Det. Keith Gonzales testified.
“That’s my automotive,” he mentioned. “What are you doing?”
Then, Gibney mentioned, “he heard a loud pop,” Gonzales testified. Wactor turned to Gibney, who requested if he was OK.
“No,” Wactor mentioned. “I obtained shot.”
The actor, 37, was pronounced useless 14 minutes later from a single gunshot to the chest, Gonzales mentioned.
Five hours after the homicide, Barceleau photographed himself brandishing a gun outfitted with a laser sight, in line with Howarth. Estrada posed with one arm round Barceleau, cash fanned out within the different hand.
During the jail operation, Barceleau mentioned he gave the gun used to kill Wactor to his father, who removed it, Howarth testified.
Barceleau and Estrada are members of Dukes’ clique of the Florencia-13 gang, Howarth mentioned. Barceleau can also be accused of assaulting police and main them on a high-speed chase 11 days after Wactor’s killing.
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In court docket paperwork, prosecutors wrote that Barceleau and two different suspects had been burglarizing a automotive parked on twenty eighth Street in South Los Angeles when two neighbors got here out from a balcony to see what was taking place.
Barceleau pointed the laser sight of his gun at them earlier than fleeing, investigators allege. Pursued by police, Barceleau drove 80 miles per hour towards an LAPD cruiser on Figueroa Street and eluded arrest, prosecutors wrote. Barceleau has pleaded not responsible and denied the costs.
In a search warrant affidavit, Howarth mentioned police suspected Barceleau, Estrada, Gutierrez and Olano in seven different crimes. According to his affidavit, it concerned a kidnapping and theft at a hashish dispensary in Chatsworth. Authorities additionally suspected the lads of burglarizing a Melrose Avenue boutique known as “Whole Lotta Cough Syrup,” a uncommon sneaker vendor in Encino, and pharmacies in Hollywood, North Hollywood and Sun Valley, though they weren’t charged with these crimes .
This story initially appeared in Los Angeles Times.
