Man who shot Lady Gaga's dog walker gets 21 years in prison - ABC News

LOS ANGELES -- The antheral who changeable and wounded Lady Gaga’s canine walker and stole her French bulldogs past twelvemonth took a plea woody and was sentenced to 21 years successful situation connected Monday, officials said.

The Lady Gaga transportation was a coincidence, authorities person said. The motive was the worth of the French bulldogs, a breed that tin tally into the thousands of dollars, and detectives bash not judge the thieves knew the dogs belonged to the musician.

James Howard Jackson, 1 of 3 men and 2 accomplices who participated successful the convulsive robbery and its aftermath, pleaded nary contention to 1 number of attempted murder, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office. It was not instantly wide which lawyer represented Howard connected Monday.

Jackson and 2 others drove astir Hollywood, the metropolis of West Hollywood and the San Fernando Valley connected Feb. 24, 2021 “looking for French bulldogs,” prosecutors said previously. They recovered Lady Gaga's canine walker, Ryan Fischer, with the popular star's 3 pets.

Jackson changeable Fischer during the robbery adjacent the famed Sunset Boulevard, during which 2 of the dogs were taken. A adjacent doorbell camera recorded the canine walker screaming “Oh, my God! I’ve been shot!” and “Help me!” and “I’m bleeding retired from my chest!”

Fischer aboriginal called the unit a “very adjacent telephone with death” successful societal media posts.

The dogs, named Koji and Gustav, were returned respective days aboriginal by Jennifer McBride, who was besides charged successful the crime.

The popular prima had offered a $500,000 reward — “no questions asked” — to beryllium reunited with the dogs astatine the time.

Jackson besides admitted the allegation of inflicting large bodily wounded and to a anterior strike, the DA's bureau said Monday. The prosecutor's bureau did not instantly accidental what the anterior onslaught was.

“The plea statement holds Mr. Jackson accountable for perpetrating a coldhearted convulsive enactment and provides justness for our victim,” the bureau said successful a statement. Howard had been charged with attempted murder, conspiracy to perpetrate a robbery and battle with a semiautomatic firearm.

Jackson was mistakenly released from jailhouse earlier this twelvemonth owed to a clerical error. He was recaptured astir 5 months later.

Another accomplice, Harold White, pleaded nary contention Monday to a number of ex-convict successful possession of a gun. White, who was successful a narration with McBride astatine the time, volition beryllium sentenced adjacent year. McBride's lawsuit is ongoing.

The mates had allegedly tried to assistance White's son, Jaylin White, debar apprehension successful the aftermath of the shooting.

Jaylin White and Lafayette Whaley earlier this twelvemonth pleaded nary contention to robbery.

Whaley drove Jackson and the younger White astir past twelvemonth arsenic they searched for the pricy dogs. Jackson and White jumped retired and attacked Fischer, prosecutors said previously. They deed and choked the canine walker, and Jackson pulled retired a semiautomatic weapon and fired, striking Fischer erstwhile earlier the trio fled.

Lady Gaga's representatives and Fischer did not instantly respond to requests for comment.

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Associated Press writer Andrew Dalton contributed.