4 people arrested in connection with the shooting of “General Hospital” actor Johnny Wactor

On Thursday afternoon, police announced arrests in connection with the shooting death of former “General Hospital” actor Johnny Wactor in May.

Later that day, the Los Angeles Police Department identified the suspects as 18-year-old Robert Barceleau, 18-year-old Leonel Gutierrez, 18-year-old Sergio Estrada and 22-year-old Frank Olano.

Barceleau, Gutierrez and Estrada were charged with murder. Officials charged Olano as an accessory to the crime.

Each of them is held on bail of $2 million.

“I want to thank the LAPD for their partnership and hard work on this case and for their continued efforts to keep Los Angeles residents safe and bring justice to victims of violence,” Mayor Karen Bass said in a statement. “Now we must ensure that those responsible for this brazen and heinous act are held fully accountable.”

The arrests come just days after Wactor’s friends and family gathered at a press conference in downtown Los Angeles to ask the public for help in finding the person or persons responsible for the actor's death.

“I was very excited but cautiously optimistic,” said the actor's mother, Scarlett Wactor, after learning of the arrests. “We still have to conduct preliminary negotiations.”

The former “General Hospital” star, 37, was shot dead in downtown Los Angeles on May 25. He had just finished his shift as a bartender and went to his car at Hope Street and Pico Boulevard when he was shot by suspects attempting to steal his catalytic converter.

Just over a week ago, LAPD investigators released still images of three suspects and a vehicle in connection with Wactor's killing in a renewed appeal for information.

Frustration grew among Wactor's family, friends and community members as months passed without any information about the three suspects and the murder remained unsolved.

In June, Wactor’s friend Micah Parker led a March in downtown Los Angeles to draw attention to the death of his friend.

“We want everyone with information to come forward,” Parker said.

The group began their march near the crime scene and continued their march to Los Angeles City Hall, where they spoke out against violence and crime in LA

“We want our city leaders, the mayor, the [district attorney]City Council to at least admit that we have a problem so we can address it and create safer streets,” Parker said.

One of the suspects, Olano, had already been convicted once before the fatal shooting. He received a suspended sentence for vandalism during Wactor's death.

Before Gutierrez was charged in Wactor's death, police arrested him on July 19 for vandalism.

Barceleau was arrested twice following the alleged murder: once 11 days after the shooting on a charge of assault with a deadly weapon, including a semi-automatic rifle, and again in July on a misdemeanor charge.

He was cited and released for that offense, and released on bail for assault with a deadly weapon.

Wactor's mother expressed her frustration after hearing about the previous arrests.

“These guys are too brazen,” said Scarlett Wactor. “The law has allowed them to act like they are above the law… I am so grateful and hopeful that the things they have already been arrested for may be added to what is happening now.”

She hopes prosecutors will demand the harshest punishments.

“They're getting a chance at life that he doesn't have,” Scarlett Wactor said. “They're breathing air that they don't deserve… If the death penalty was an option, I think that would be fantastic.”