Back in February 2021, people were heartbroken to learn that Lady Gaga’s beloved French bulldogs had been stolen. Beyond the theft of the valuable dogs, her dog walker, Ryan Fischer, had been shot.
Three men and two accomplices were arrested for the crime and the one responsible for shooting Fischer has finally been sentenced.
According to Yahoo!, Fischer was walking three French bulldogs, who belonged to Lady Gaga (Stefani Germanotta), in Hollywood when he was brutally attacked and shot. Two of the dogs, Koji and Gustav, were taken and Fischer was left on the sidewalk fighting for his life.
Since that time, five people have been identified in connection with the crime: James Howard Jackson, Jaylin White, and Lafayette Whaley, and two accomplices, Harold White, Jennifer McBride
According to NPR, Whaley drove Jackson and Jaylin White around to search for valuable French bulldogs to steal. Whaley was behind the wheel of the getaway vehicle when Jackson and Jaylin White jumped out and attacked Ryan Fischer and stole the dogs. 20-year-old James Howard Jackson shot Fischr before fleeing the scene.
Harold White and Jennifer McBride, Jaylin’s parents, reportedly tried to help their son avoid arrest following the incident. 50-year-old McBride returned the two dogs to Stefani Germanotta after being offered half a million dollars as a reward.
In a court transcript shared by Rolling Stone, Fischer testified about the “earth-shattering event” that nearly cost him his life. He shared that after he was shot that day, he suffered “lung collapse after lung collapse” and required extensive and ongoing medical care, including the removal of part of his lung.
In Fischer’s heartbreaking testimony, he recalled how he initially refused to give up the dogs when confronted by the criminals but they wouldn’t take “no” for an answer. Two men began beating and choking Fisher before James Howard Jackson ultimately shot him in the chest.
Fischer miraculously survived the attack but it forever altered his life.
On Monday, December 5th, James Howard Jackson took a plea deal and was sentenced to 21 years in prison.
According to the New York Times, White and Whaley were sentected earlier this year. Jaylin White was sentenced to four years in prison, and Lafayette Whaley was sentenced to six years in prison.
Harold White will be sentenced next year and Jennifer McBride’s case is ongoing.
