5 arrested in armed robbery, shooting of Lady Gaga's dog walker

LOS ANGELES (TCD) --

Five people were arrested Tuesday, April 27, in connection with the violent robbery and shooting of Lady Gaga's dog walker in February.

Ryan Fischer was hospitalized after he was shot on the night of February 24, 2021.

Surveillance video in the neighborhood showed a sedan pulling up next to Fischer, and two men in dark clothing getting out, KTLA-TV reported. They struggled, and Fischer was shot once in the chest. The two suspects took two of three of the French bulldogs Fischer was walking. The third dog reportedly ran from the scene and was recovered safely later the same night.

Fischer, 30, was recovering in the hospital after the shooting. Fischer had reportedly been taking care of the pop superstar’s dogs for years.

Los Angeles Police don’t think the suspects knew the three French bulldogs belonged to Lady Gaga, but "evidence suggests the suspects knew the great value of the breed of dogs and was the motivation for the robbery."

Search and arrest warrants were served in the case on Thursday, the Los Angeles Police Dept. announced.

James Jackson, 18; Jaylin White, 19; and Lafayette Whaley, 27, were each charged with one count of attempted murder, conspiracy to commit robbery and second-degree robbery, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office said. Jackson also faces one count each 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.

Harold White, 40; and Jennifer McBride, 50, were each charged with one count of accessory after the fact, the D.A.’s Office said. Harold White also was charged with one count of possession of a firearm, and McBride faces one count of receiving stolen property.

Police said Jackson, Jaylin White, and Whaley "were involved in the robbery and shooting" of the victim.

All four of the men are documented L.A. gang members, police said.

Police determined McBride, who returned the two stolen dogs to an area LAPD station, was in a relationship with Harold White.

Lady Gaga initially offered a $500,000 reward for retrieving her dogs “no questions asked,” but it was unclear if McBride received the money after turning them in.

The Associated Press reports all five suspects were each being held on $1 million bail.

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