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The man who shot Lady Gaga’s dog walker and stole her French bulldog has been sentenced to 21 years in prison after pleading guilty, U.S. officials said.
James Howard Jackson, one of three men and two accomplices involved in a violent robbery, pleaded not guilty to one count of attempted murder, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office said Monday.
Prosecutors previously said Jackson and others drove around Hollywood, West Hollywood and the San Fernando Valley on February 24, 2021, “looking for French Bulldogs.”
They tracked down Lady Gaga’s dog walker, Ryan Fischer, and the pop star’s three pets.
Jackson shot and killed Mr. Fischer during the robbery near Sunset Boulevard when two dogs were taken. A nearby doorbell camera recorded the dog walker screaming, “Oh my God, I got shot,” “Help me” and “My chest is bleeding.”
The dogs, Koji and Gustav, were returned days later by Jennifer McBridge, also charged with the crime.
Pop star and actress Lady Gaga has offered a $500,000 (£409,945) reward – ‘no questions asked’ – for being reunited with her animals.
Jackson also pleaded guilty to one count of causing grievous bodily harm and prior strike, the district attorney’s office said. It did not say what the previous strike was.
“The plea deal holds Mr. Jackson accountable for committing a callous act of violence and justice for our victims,” the office said in a statement.
Authorities said the link to Lady Gaga was purely coincidental.
The motive was the value of French bulldogs, a breed that can be worth thousands of dollars, and detectives don’t believe the thieves knew the dogs belonged to musicians.
Jackson, who was wrongfully released from prison earlier this year due to clerical errors and was re-arrested nearly five months later, has been charged with attempted murder, conspiracy to commit robbery and assault with a semiautomatic firearm.
White, who was involved with McBride at the time, will be sentenced next year.
The couple allegedly tried to help White’s son Jaline White avoid arrest following the shooting.
Jaylin White and Lafayette Whaley pleaded no contest to robbery earlier this year.
Whaley drove Jackson and young White around last year as they searched for the prized dog.
Prosecutors previously said Jackson and White jumped out of the car and attacked Mr Fischer.
They hit the dog walker and choked him, and Jackson pulled out a semiautomatic and fired, hitting Fischer once before the three fled.
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