LOS ANGELES — Three suspects in the shooting death of former "General Hospital" actor Johnny Wactor, including two facing murder charges, pleaded not guilty Thursday in downtown Los Angeles, while a fourth suspect who is facing lesser charges indicated he would plead guilty at a later date.

The not guilty pleas were entered on behalf of the alleged gunman, Robert Isaiah Barceleau, 18, of Huntington Park, who is charged with murder and the special-circumstance allegation of murder during the commission of an attempted robbery in connection with the actor's May 25 killing.

Also pleading not guilty was Sergio Estrada, 18, who was also charged with murder, but is not charged with the special-circumstance allegation. He was also charged with attempted robbery and grand theft, along with gun allegations.

In addition, Frank Olano, 22, of Inglewood, pleaded not guilty to being an accessory after the fact to the killing, along with receiving stolen property and three counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm.

A fourth suspect, Leonel Gutierrez, 18, who is charged with attempted robbery and grand theft by embezzlement, both with gun allegations, indicated through his attorney that he would plead guilty to the charges next month.

Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Susan De Witt scheduled preliminary hearing settings for Barceleau, Estrada and Olano on Oct. 16. Gutierrez was expected to enter his guilty plea on Sept. 11.

At a previous hearing, the judge ordered Barceleau held without bail. Estrada was ordered held in lieu of just over $2 million, while bail was set at $120,000 for Gutierrez and just over $1 million for Olano.

Gutierrez was freed on bond Aug. 21, while the other three men remain behind bars, according to jail records.

Wactor, 37, was shot about 3:30 a.m. May 25 while walking with a co-worker toward his parked car near Hope Street and Pico Boulevard in downtown Los Angeles after finishing his bartending shift at the nearby Level 8 bar/restaurant.

Police said that the pair encountered a crew of people trying to steal the catalytic converter from Wactor's car, and that one of them shot Wactor as he approached.

The suspects had Wactor's vehicle raised up with a floor jack and were in the process of stealing the catalytic converter, police said, adding that Wactor was shot by one of the individuals without provocation.

The LAPD had previously released surveillance photos of the suspects believed to have killed Wactor, along with images of an allegedly stolen 2018 black, four-door Infiniti Q50 in which the suspects were believed to have escaped by driving northbound on Hope Street.

Barceleau, Estrada, Gutierrez and Olano were arrested Aug. 15 in a series of raids carried out by Los Angeles police.

They made their first appearance in a downtown courtroom in connection with the charges Aug. 19.

At a news conference the day the case was filed, District Attorney George Gascón said Barceleau is believed to be the person who "shot Johnny in the chest, taking his life."

"This cowardly act led to the loss of a son, a brother and a friend to many," Gascón said. "The loss of this talented young actor who was in the prime of his life and had so much to offer to the world is deeply felt by all of us."

The district attorney said he recognizes that the charges are a "small consolation for Mr. Wactor's friends and family."

Prior to the charges being announced, Wactor's friends and family called on Gascón to pursue the maximum charges and sentencing allegations against the suspects.

In a statement read on the family's behalf outside the downtown Los Angeles courthouse, the actor's mother said they are anxiously awaiting the "strongest" charges and all available sentencing enhancements or "for them (the suspects) to be tried in federal court." 

"This is far from over," Scarlett Wactor said in the statement. "We are asking for all to continue to pray for the harshest penalties" for her son's killing.

Los Angeles City Councilman Kevin de León was also among those who called for "maximum penalties" in the case.

"Johnny Wactor was murdered. His life was taken away for a piece of metal, a piece of metal at the end of the day that they didn't even take away," the city councilman told reporters.  "My heart, and I think the heart of Los Angeles, goes out to the family of Johnny Wactor. He came all the way from South Carolina to make a name for himself and his life ended in great tragedy. That's not who we are as a great city, (the) city of Los Angeles."

De León lauded Los Angeles Police Department homicide detectives for working "24/7 to find the killers" and for leaving "no stone unturned" in their investigation into Wactor's death.

Catalytic converters are popular targets for thieves because they are rich in precious metals that can be resold.

Wactor appeared in nearly 200 episodes of "General Hospital" from 2020-22. His other credits included "Westworld," "The OA," "NCIS," "Station 19," "Criminal Minds" and "Hollywood Girl."