By Stephanie Dazio -
The Associated Press
The man who shot and wounded artist Lady Gaga's dog walker during the theft of her French bulldogs last year in Los Angeles accepted a plea deal and was sentenced Monday to 21 years in prison, authorities said.
Investigators said the reason for the attack by James Howard Jackson was the high value of the pets, whose breeds can cost thousands of dollars, and that it was a coincidence that they belonged to the singer.
The dog walker,
Ryan Fischer,
was seriously injured.
James Howard Jackson.US Marshals Service via AP
“It's hard to believe that it's about two years since I was taking Asia, Koji and Gustav out for a night walk when, in an instant, I suddenly found myself fighting with everything I had to protect those dogs from being stolen. .
But it wasn't enough:
I was beaten, strangled, shot,
and left to bleed to death on a sidewalk, gasping for life.
And Koji and Gustav had disappeared, ”he recalled, dismayed.
Jackson and two others roamed Hollywood, the city of West Hollywood and the San Fernando Valley on February 24, 2021 "in search of French bulldogs," prosecutors previously stated.
They found Fischer with the singer's three pets
The man shot the walker on Sunset Boulevard as two of the dogs were stolen.
A nearby security camera recorded the attack and captured the walker: “My God!
They shot me!", "Help me!", "I'm bleeding from my chest!".
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Fischer said he is still recovering physically and mentally from the shooting.
He had to have part of a lung removed and is still in physiotherapy.
The stolen dogs were returned several days later by Jennifer McBride, also charged with the crime.
The pop star had then offered a
$500,000 reward
to get her pets back.
"The plea agreement holds Mr. Jackson accountable for committing a violent and heartless act and provides justice for our victim," the prosecutor's office explained in a statement.
Howard had been charged with attempted murder, conspiracy to commit robbery and assault with a semi-automatic firearm.
Jackson was released from jail earlier this year due to a clerical error.
He was recaptured almost five months later.
Another accomplice, Harold White, pleaded not guilty Monday to a charge of ex-convict in possession of a weapon and will be sentenced next year.
At the time, he was in a relationship with McBride, whose case is ongoing.
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The couple reportedly tried to help White's son, Jaylin White, avoid arrest after the shooting.
Jaylin White and Lafayette Whaley pleaded not guilty to robbery earlier this year.