One of the bandits yelled” No” when Johnny Wactor discovered three persons wearing masks trying to steal the catalytic converter from his Toyota Prius in May. before his “hot-headed” companion fired a single shot into the” General Hospital” actor’s chest, a detective testified Monday.
Robert Barceleau and Sergio Estrada are accused of killing Wactor in downtown Los Angeles at a primary reading. The accused, both 18, have pleaded not guilty.
In a prison talk secretly recorded by officials, Estrada said he hadn’t wanted to “work” stealing catalytic converter with Barceleau, whom he called “hot-headed”, said Det. Justin Howarth of the Los Angeles Police Department. According to Howarth, Estrada claimed he yelled at Barceleau not to blast before pulling the trigger.
The 5-foot-6-inch, 110-pound Barceleau, who was nicknamed” Smalls,” claimed in a split documenting that he shot Wactor because the comedian was “going after the pal” after finding them hoist up his car and removed its catalytic converter.
Wactor’s murders left behind a 2-ton, rapid-pump ground jack next to the Prius. Officers found the prints of three people on the bob, according to witness: Barceleau, Estrada and Leonel Gutierrez.
Gutierrez has entered a no contest to attempting to commit great fraud and robbery. A third defendant, Frank” Littles” Olano, pleaded no battle to receiving stolen property and accessory after the fact. On January 15, Gutierrez and Olano will been sentenced.
Howarth testified that Olano admitted to receiving six catalytic converters from Barceleau, Estrada, and Gutierrez the evening Wactor was killed.
The suspects allegedly stole the catalytic conversion from a vehicles less than two miles from Wactor’s parking spot before heading to the Quality 8 lounge at the Moxy Hotel about 20 days before the fatal incident, according to USC’s Department of Public Safety surveillance cameras.
Around 3: 20 a. m., Wactor returned to his vehicle with a co-worker, Anita Gibney, who told authorities they initially thought the Prius was being towed. When they realized it was a fraud, Gibney attempted to cover up the dark sedan next to the Prius while Wactor confronted the criminals, LAPD Det. Keith Gonzales testified.
” That’s my car”, he said. ” What are you doing”?
Therefore, Gibney said, she “heard a quiet snap”, Gonzales testified. Wactor fell again into Gibney, who asked if he was Fine.
” Nope”, Wactor said. ” I’ve been shot”.
The artist, 37, was pronounced dead 14 days later from a single bullet to the stomach, Gonzales said.
According to Howarth, Barceleau took a photo of himself allegedly holding a gun with a light look five hrs after the crime. Estrada posed with one arm around Barceleau, income fanned out in his other side.
In the prison bite, Barceleau said he gave the weapons used to remove Wactor to his parents, who disposed of it, Howarth testified.
Barceleau and Estrada are users of the Dukes group of the Florencia-13 crew, Howarth said. 11 days after Wactor was killed, Barceleau is even accused of assaulting police and leading them on a high-speed fight.
When two companions stepped onto a balcony to see what was happening, lawyers claimed in court documents that Barceleau and two other suspects were burglarizing a car parked on 28th Street in South Los Angeles.
According to the prosecution, Barceleau allegedly pointed the light view of his weapon at them before fleeing. According to the prosecution, Barceleau allegedly evaded imprisonment by driving 80 miles per hour on Figueroa Street toward an LAPD ship. Barreau has entered a not-guilty plea and refuted the accusations.
In a seek warrant oath, Howarth said officers suspected Barceleau, Estrada, Gutierrez and Olano in seven different crimes. According to his oath, they include a kidnapping and assault at a cannabis clinic in Chatsworth. Officials have also raised suspicions against the men for breaking into a Melrose Avenue store called” Whole Lotta Cough Syrup,” a eponymous glove merchant in Encino, and pharmacy in Hollywood, North Hollywood, and Sun Valley, even though they have not been charged with any of these crimes.
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