Last May, when Johnny Wachter spotted three masked people trying to steal a catalytic converter from a Toyota Prius, one of the thieves yelled, “No!” before his “hot-tempered” associate fired one shot into the “General Hospital” actor’s chest, a detective testified Monday.
New details about the case emerged at the preliminary hearing of Robert Barcelot and Sergio Estrada, who are accused of killing Wachter in downtown Los Angeles. Both defendants are 18 years old and have pleaded not guilty.
In a jailhouse conversation secretly recorded by authorities, Estrada said he didn’t want to work with Barcelot to steal catalytic converters and called Barcelot a “hot temper.” Justin Howarth of the Los Angeles Police Department. Howarth said Estrada claimed Barcelo yelled at him not to shoot before pulling the trigger.
In another recording, the 5-foot-6, 110-pound Barcelello, known as “Smalls,” told the informant that after he spotted Wachter hoisting his car to perform the catalyst function. He said he shot him because he was “following his comrades.” converter, Howarth said.
Wachter’s killers left a two-ton high-speed pump floor jack next to the Prius. According to testimony, police found the fingerprints of three men on Jack: Barcelo, Estrada and Leonel Gutierrez.
Gutierrez pleaded no contest to attempted robbery and grand larceny. A fourth defendant, Frank “Littles” Olano, pleaded no contest to receiving stolen property and accessories after the fact. Gutierrez and Olano are scheduled to be sentenced on January 15th.
Mr. Olano told the informant that he had received six catalytic converters from Mr. Barcelot, Mr. Estrada and Mr. Gutierrez the night Mr. Wachter was killed, Mr. Howarth testified.
Approximately 20 minutes before the murder, cameras maintained by the University of Southern California’s Department of Public Safety showed Wachter stealing a catalytic converter from a car within three miles of where he parked his 2013 Prius, then proceeding to shift control at the Level 8 Lounge. The suspect was captured heading to a bar. Moxy Hotel.
Around 3:20 a.m., Wachter returned to his car with his co-worker, Anita Gibney, who told police she initially thought the Prius was being towed. Upon realizing it was a theft, Gibney discreetly attempted to take a photo of the dark-colored sedan parked next to the Prius while Wachter confronted the thief’s LAPD detectives. Keith Gonzalez testified.
“That’s my car,” he said. “what are you doing?”
That’s when Gibney “heard a loud bang,” Gonzalez testified. Wachter returns to Gibney, who asks if he is okay.
“No,” Wachter said. “I was shot.”
The actor, 37, was pronounced dead 14 minutes later from a single gunshot wound to the chest, Gonzalez said.
Howarth said that five hours after the murder, Barcelot took a photo of himself brandishing a gun with a laser sight. Estrada posed with one arm around Barcelo and cash spread out in the other hand.
During a prison interrogation, Howarth testified that Barcelot gave the gun he used to kill Wachter to his father, who disposed of it.
Howarth said Barcelot and Estrada are members of the Dukes faction of the Florencia-13 gang. Barcelot is also charged with assaulting police and leading a high-speed chase 11 days after Wachter’s murder.
Prosecutors said in court documents that Barcelot and two other suspects were robbing a car parked on 28th Street in South Los Angeles when two neighbors stepped out onto their balcony to check on the suspect. I wrote it.
Prosecutors allege Barcelot pointed the gun’s laser sight at them before fleeing. Chased by police, Barcelot evaded arrest by driving 130 mph toward an LAPD cruiser on Figueroa Avenue, prosecutors wrote. Barcelot maintains his innocence and denies the charges.
Howarth said in a search warrant affidavit that police suspect Barcelot, Estrada, Gutierrez and Olano in seven other crimes. That included a kidnapping and robbery at a Chatsworth marijuana dispensary, according to his affidavit. Authorities also suspect the men of robbing the Whole Lotta Cough Syrup boutique on Melrose Street, an exotic sneaker store in Encino, and pharmacies in Hollywood, North Hollywood, and Sun Valley, but the charges include No charges have been filed.
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