Ryan Fischer was shot in the chest while out walking the singer’s dogs in Los Angeles two months ago.
The woman who returned Lady Gaga’s stolen French bulldogs was among five people charged Thursday with attempted murder and robbery in connection with the theft and shooting of the music superstar’s dog walker.
Detectives do not believe that the thieves knew the dogs belonged to the pop star, the Los Angeles Police Department said in a statement. The motive for the February 24 robbery, investigators believe, was the value of the French bulldogs – which can run into the thousands of dollars.
The dog walker, Ryan Fischer, is recovering from a gunshot wound and has called the violence “a very close call with death” in social media posts. He was walking Lady Gaga’s three dogs – named Asia, Koji and Gustav – in Hollywood just off the famed Sunset Boulevard when he was attacked.
“This was a brazen street crime that left a man seriously wounded,” District Attorney George Gascón said in a statement. “We have alleged very serious charges in this case and have faith that justice will be appropriately served as this case unfolds in court.”
Lady Gaga sings the national anthem during the 59th Presidential Inauguration at the US Capitol for President-elect Joe Biden in Washington, January 20, 2021 [Greg Nash/Pool Photo via AP]The video captured Fischer’s screams of, “Oh, my God! I’ve been shot!” and “Help me!” and “I’m bleeding out from my chest!”
Lady Gaga offered a $500,000 reward – “no questions asked” – to be reunited with the dogs. The singer had been in Rome at the time filming a movie.
My beloved dogs Koji and Gustav were taken in Hollywood two nights ago. My heart is sick and I am praying my family will be whole again with an act of kindness. I will pay $500,000 for their safe return. Email KojiandGustav@gmail.com to contact us. pic.twitter.com/3NY9u7Mw2K
— Lady Gaga (@ladygaga) February 26, 2021
The dogs were returned two days later to an LAPD station by a woman who originally appeared to be “uninvolved and unassociated” with the crime, police initially said. It was not immediately clear if the woman, identified Thursday as 50-year-old Jennifer McBride, received the reward.
McBride turned out to be in a relationship with the father of one of the suspects, the LAPD said Thursday.
Police arrested James Jackson, 18; Jaylin White, 19; and Lafayette Whaley, 27, in connection with the violence. They are charged with attempted murder, conspiracy to commit robbery and second-degree robbery, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
Jackson, who authorities say was the shooter, also faces charges of assault with a semiautomatic firearm and a felon carrying a concealed firearm in a vehicle. White faces one count of assault by means of force likely to produce great bodily injury.
The site where Lady Gaga’s dog walker was shot and two of her dogs were stolen in Los Angeles, California, US [File: Mario Anzuoni/Reuters]Jackson, Whaley and the Whites are all documented gang members, according to the LAPD.
The five suspects were charged Thursday by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. It was not immediately clear if they had lawyers who could speak on their behalf.
All five were being held on $1m bail each, online jail records show.
Lady Gaga did not immediately address the arrests on her social media accounts Thursday afternoon. Fischer and Lady Gaga’s representatives did not respond to requests for comment.
Five charged in violent theft of Lady Gaga’s dogs - Al Jazeera English
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