Accused dognappers didn’t know bulldogs belonged to Lady Gaga in near fatal robbery, police say

Sign up to Roisin O’Connor’s free weekly newsletter Now Hear This for the inside track on all things music

Get our Now Hear This email for free

Please enter a valid email address

Please enter a valid email address

SIGN UP

I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

Police have said that the robbers who kidnapped two bulldogs and shot Lady Gaga’s dog walker in February did not know that the dogs belonged to the pop star.

The three robbers named James Jackson, Jaylin White, and Lafayette Whaley, were apprehended a week ago on suspicion of attempted murder and robbery.

The felony complaint states that the trio cruised around West Hollywood and the San Fernando Valley on 24 February “looking for French bulldogs,” when they spotted Fischer.

They turned off their car’s lights and followed him down an isolated side road.

White and Jackson leaped out of the van to assault the dogwalker, taking Koji and Gustav [bulldogs] after hitting and gagging Fischer.

Soon after, Jackson pulled out a self-loading gun and fired before fleeing the scene.

The camera recorded the dog walker screaming: “Oh, my God! I’ve been shot!” and “Help me!” and “I’m bleeding out from my chest!”.

After the incident, Gaga took to Twitter to say: “My beloved dogs Koji and Gustav were taken in Hollywood two nights ago. My heart is sick and I am praying my family will be whole again with an act of kindness.”

She confirmed she was offering a reward of $500,000 (£360,360) for the dogs’ safe return, adding: “If you bought or found them unknowingly, the reward is the same.”

Prosecutors also referenced that not long after the episode occurred, White’s father, Harold White, and Jennifer McBride, who was in a relationship with Harold, became involved in the robbery.

They allegedly helped Jaylin avoid arrest, followed by McBride returning the dogs to police on 26 February.

Enjoy unlimited access to 70 million ad-free songs and podcasts with Amazon Music

Sign up now for a 30-day free trial

Sign up

Enjoy unlimited access to 70 million ad-free songs and podcasts with Amazon Music

Sign up now for a 30-day free trial

Sign up

Police said McBride appeared to be “uninvolved and unassociated” with the crime.

Although, she was charged with receiving stolen property valued above $950 (£685), in addition to a count of being an accessory in the situation.

Prison records show that Jaylin White remains held on more than $1m bond (£7.21m) while Jackson is held on just over $3m bond (£2.16m), and Whaley’s bond is $1.1m (£7.92m).

Harold was released from jail on Saturday (1 May), and McBride was freed Monday (3 May) pending their next court appearance.