When Johnny Wactor found three people in masks trying to steal the catalytic converter from his Toyota Prius last May, one of the thieves yelled “No!” before his “hot-headed” companion fired a single shot into the “General Hospital” actor’s chest, a detective testified Monday.
New details about the case came at a preliminary hearing for Robert Barceleau and Sergio Estrada, who are charged with murdering Wactor in downtown Los Angeles. The defendants, both 18, have pleaded not guilty.
In a jailhouse conversation secretly recorded by authorities, Estrada said he hadn’t wanted to “work” stealing catalytic converters with Barceleau, whom he called “hot-headed,” said Det. Justin Howarth of the Los Angeles Police Department. Estrada claimed he yelled at Barceleau not to shoot before Barceleau pulled the trigger, Howarth said.
Nicknamed “Smalls,” the 5-foot 6-inch, 110-pound Barceleau told an informant in a separate recording that he shot Wactor because the actor was “going after the homie” after finding them hoisting up his car to saw off its catalytic converter, Howarth said.