At a Glance
- Court
- Los Angeles County Superior Court
- Case Type
- Criminal Indictment
- Parties
- People v. Jackson et al.
- Jurisdiction
- Los Angeles County, California
- Date
- 2021-04-29
- Status
- Charged
The Los Angeles Police Department announced on April 29, 2021, the arrest of five individuals in connection with the Feb. 24 armed robbery and shooting of dog walker Ryan Fischer and the theft of two French bulldogs belonging to entertainer Lady Gaga [1][6]. Authorities identified James Jackson, Jaylin White, and Lafayette Whaley as the principals, each charged with attempted murder, while Harold White and Jennifer McBride were charged as accessories to the crime [1]. All five were arrested within a three-hour window by officers from the LAPD's South Bureau Homicide, Metropolitan Division, and Newton Division [6].
According to NPR, Fischer was walking three dogs near Sierra Bonita Avenue and Sunset Boulevard just before 10 p.m. when two suspects approached in a four-door sedan, exited the vehicle, and demanded the dogs at gunpoint. They struggled with Fischer, shot him once, and drove off with two of the bulldogs, named Koji and Gustav [1]. The third dog escaped and was soon reunited with Lady Gaga's representatives [6]. Fischer, who survived, later disclosed on social media that his lung had collapsed after his initial hospital discharge and that portions of it ultimately had to be removed [1].
Jackson, White, and Whaley each faced one count of attempted murder, conspiracy to commit robbery, and second-degree robbery. Jackson faced additional counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm and felon carrying a concealed firearm in a vehicle [6]. Harold White, 40, and McBride, 50, were each charged with one count of accessory after the fact. Harold White also faced one count of illegal firearm possession, and McBride faced a count of receiving stolen property [6]. Four of the five defendants are documented gang members in Los Angeles, according to police [1].
McBride's alleged role in the theft stood in contrast to earlier LAPD statements. Capt. Jonathan Tippet had told the Associated Press in February that the then-unnamed woman who returned the dogs appeared to be "uninvolved and unassociated" with the robbery [1]. Detectives subsequently established that McBride had a relationship with Harold White, the father of suspect Jaylin White [1]. Lady Gaga had offered a $500,000 reward for the dogs' safe return [4]. Police were not able to confirm whether that reward was paid [1].
Investigators said they do not believe the suspects targeted Fischer because of the dogs' celebrity owner. Authorities stated that evidence suggests the suspects were aware of the high monetary value of the breed and that this knowledge drove the robbery [1]. French bulldogs rank among the most popular and expensive dog breeds, with an average sale price of approximately $4,000 [1]. Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon called the incident "a brazen street crime that left a man seriously wounded" and stated that his office had alleged "very serious charges" and expected justice to be served as the case moved through the courts [6].
References
[1] NPR. (2021, April 29). 5 Facing Charges Over Shooting Of Lady Gaga's Dog Walker And Theft Of French Bulldogs. https://www.npr.org/2021/04/29/992184972/5-facing-charges-over-shooting-of-lady-gagas-dog-walker-and-theft-of-french-bull
[2] NBC Los Angeles. (2021, April 30). 5 Arrested in Shooting of Lady Gaga's Dog Walker. https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/lady-gaga-dog-walker-shooting-charges-dognapping-hollywood-lapd/2584935/
[3] TODAY. (2021, April 30). 5 arrested in connection with Lady Gaga dog walker shooting. https://www.today.com/pets/5-arrested-lady-gaga-s-dognapping-scheme-t217000