Woman Who “Returned” Gaga’s Dogs Was Also Charged
The L.A. District Attorney has announced that five people have been arrested and charged in connection with the dognapping of Lady Gaga’s dogs and the shooting of her dog walker.
Three people were charged with one count of attempted murder, conspiracy to commit robbery, and second-degree robbery. One of the three, James Howard Jackson, was also hit with charges of one count of assault with a semiautomatic firearm, a felon carrying a firearm in a vehicle, and other charges.
The other two, Harold White and Jennifer McBride, were charged with accessory to murder.
From PEOPLE.com:
According to an LAPD press release, police allege James Jackson, 18, Jaylin White, 19, and 27-year-old Lafayette Whaley were involved with the robbery and shooting. They have been arrested on suspicion of robbery and attempted murder. On February 24, this group of people allegedly dognapped Gaga’s two French bulldogs and shot her dogwalker.
Jennifer McBride, 50, who brought the dogs to police, has been arrested in the case as well, say police. According to the press release, McBride and Harold White, 40, the father of Jaylin White, were allegedly “determined to be accessories after the initial crime” and are being held on suspicion of accessory after the fact to attempted murder.
The press release alleges McBride “responded to the reward email to return the dogs. 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.”
Dogwalker Ryan Fischer was walking the singer’s three dogs, Koji, Gustav and Asia, the night Feb. 24 in Hollywood. He was shot once in the chest before the assailants drove away with Koji and Gustav, leaving Asia behind. Video from a nearby surveillance camera was posted by TMZ of this very violent event.
A $500,000 reward had been offered by Lady Gaga for the return of her two missing dogs, but police grew suspicious and advised the Grammy-winning singer not to pay the promised reward. Detectives do not believe the suspects were specifically targeting Gaga, but the high value of the breed of dogs.
Dog walker Ryan Fischer revealed his lung collapsed several times after being shot, but has expressed optimism about his recovery and gratitude for the support he has received from many people, including Gaga.
Susan Saunders 4/30/21
