Featured Image Credit: Alamy
Topics: Lady Gaga, Police, Crime, Los Angeles
Daisy Phillipson
Lady Gaga’s dog walker has urged the man accused of shooting him to turn himself in after he was mistakenly released from jail.
In 2021, Ryan Fischer was out walking Lady Gaga’s French bulldogs – Koji, Gustav and Miss Asia – when he was shot by two men. Gustav and Koji were abducted and later handed over to cops, while a frightened Miss Asia ran away but was thankfully found by police.
Once police arrived at the scene, Fischer was found barely breathing after being shot in the chest trying to protect the pups. He was rushed to a nearby hospital where he began a long road to recovery, which included having part of his lung removed.
As police continue their investigation, one of the suspects accused of being involved in the attack, 19-year old James Howard Jackson, was said to have been released from custody this week due to an error.
Speaking about the mistake, district attorney of Los Angeles County, George Gascón, shared the following statement on Twitter: “On Tuesday, April 6, 2022, our office indicted Mr. James Howard Jackson for attempted murder, conspiracy to commit a robbery and assault with a semiautomatic firearm.
Advert
“Mr. Jackson was mistakenly released from custody by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Our office is working with the Sheriff’s Department to ensure Mr. Jackson is returned to custody. If anyone has any information, please reach out to the Sheriff’s Department by calling (800) 698-8255.”
Fischer himself has also called on the suspect to turn himself in, writing on Instagram: “While I’m deeply concerned at the events that led to his release, I’m confident law enforcement will rectify the error.
“I ask for Mr. Jackson to turn himself over to the authorities, so resolution to the crime committed against me runs its course, whatever the courts determine that outcome to be. Thank you to everyone who is supporting me during this time.”
The Los Angeles Police Department are said to have used mobile phone data and surveillance footage to track down the suspects last year, before charging Jackson alongside Jaylin White, 19, and Lafayette Whaley, 27, with attempted murder.
White's father, 40-year-old Harold White, and 50-year-old Jennifer McBride were also charged with accessory to attempted murder. The LAPD said the evidence suggests they didn't know Fischer worked for Gaga, but were motivated by 'the great value of the breed of dogs'.
In the wake of the incident, Lady Gaga offered a $500,000 reward for the dogs' safe return, and also thanked Fischer for his bravery, writing on Instagram: "I continue to love you Ryan Fischer, you risked your life to fight for our family. You’re forever a hero."
If you have a story you want to tell, send it to UNILAD via [email protected]