NEWSLady Gaga Dognapping Suspects Did Not Know French Bulldogs Belonged To The Singer, Say Prosecutors
New details have emerged in the shocking Lady Gaga dognapping case, with prosecutors saying that the suspects involved did not know the French bulldogs belonged to the famed singer.
Last week, five arrests were reportedly made in connection with the incident, which saw the 35-year-old's dog walker, Ryan Fischer, shot and two of her French bulldogs, Gustav and Koji, stolen.
According to a complaint, obtained by the Associated Press, three men, James Jackson, 18, Jaylin White, 19, and Lafayette Whaley, 27, allegedly drove around Hollywood, West Hollywood and San Fernando Valley in a white sedan on February 24 "looking for French bulldogs."
The group, who allegedly had gang connections, saw Fisher with three dogs and followed him to a secluded side street.
Jackson and White reportedly jumped out of the car and attacked Fischer and took the two dogs, while the third French Bulldog, Asia, escaped. Prosecutors claimed that the men hit and choked Fischer before Jackson shot him with a semiautomatic gun, and they fled with the two dogs.
The scene was captured on doorbell footage, which saw Fisher screaming: "Oh, my God! I’ve been shot!" "Help me!" and "I’m bleeding out from my chest!"
Jackson, White and Whaley were charged with one count each of attempted murder, conspiracy to commit robbery and second-degree robbery. Jackson also faces one count each of assault with a semiautomatic firearm and a felon carrying a concealed firearm in a vehicle, while White faces one count of assault by means of force likely to produce great bodily injury.
- Five Suspects Reportedly Arrested In Lady Gaga Dognapping — Including Woman Who Turned Them In For Payout
- Safe & Sound: Lady Gaga's Two French Bulldogs Recovered Unharmed Following Violent Robbery That Left Dog Walker Shot
- Surveillance Video Reveals Shocking Details Of The Shooting Of Lady Gaga's Dog Walker & Theft Of Her French Bulldogs
Two others charged include White's father, Harold, and his girlfriend, Jennifer McBride who allegedly got involved after the dognapping. McBride is believed to be the woman who returned the two dogs to police on February 26 when Lady Gaga, who was born Stefani Germanotta, offered a $500,000 reward for their return.
McBride "responded to the reward email to return the dogs," according to a press release. "She ultimately brought the dogs to LAPD Olympic Station. Detectives were able to establish McBride had a relationship with the father of one of the suspects, Harold White.
"Detectives do not believe the suspects were targeting the victim because of the dogs' owner" but "evidence suggests the suspects knew the great value of the breed of dogs," the press release explained, as previously reported by OK!.
Police advised the "Born This Way" singer not to pay the reward money until McBride was cleared, as the woman claimed she found the dogs tied to a pole.
The couple have been charged with one count each of being accessories after the crime while McBride is also being charged with receiving stolen property valued above $950 and Harold was charged with one count of possession of a firearm.
The trio involved in the incident pleaded not guilty and will appear in court again on May 11 but they are still in jail. White's bail was set to $1,050,000, Jackson's at $3,030,000 and Whaley’s at $1.1 million.
Harold and McBride have both since been released on bond. Harold was released on Saturday, May 1, and McBride on Monday, May 3.
The A Star Is Born actress' father, Joe Germanotta, had his suspicions when McBride turned the dogs in. "I thought it was extremely unusual that when somebody finds a dog, the first thing they think to do is call a phone number, not 911 or 311," he told The Daily Beast.
