Man who shot Lady Gaga's dog walker in 'coldhearted' act sentenced to 21 years

A man accused of shooting Lady Gaga's dog walker and stealing two of her French bulldogs entered a plea and was sentenced to 21 years in prison on Monday, officials said.

James Howard Jackson, 20, was one of five people arrested in connection to the shooting and robbery.

He pleaded no contest to a single count of attempted murder and was immediately sentenced, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office.

Jackson was erroneously released from jail in April due to a clerical error, according to the U.S. Marshals Service. Jail records show he was rearrested in August.

Gaga's dog walker, Ryan Fischer, is reportedly from Cincinnati. In 2021, he appeared on CBS Mornings and spoke with co-host Gayle King about his experience.

In February 2021, Fischer was shot while walking the singer's three French bulldogs in Los Angeles. Authorities said Jackson shot Fischer in the chest with a .40-caliber handgun.

"I had a feeling when they came up, pulled the gun on me that I was going to end up being shot," Fischer told King. "In my mind, there was no way I wasn't going to fight for these dogs."

The men stole two of Gaga's French bulldogs, Gustav and Koji. Two days later, the animals were recovered unharmed, after a woman who appeared to be "uninvolved and unassociated" with the armed robbery returned them to the LAPD's Olympic Community Police Station, Los Angeles Police Capt. Jonathan Tippett said.

Five people were later arrested and charged in connection with the crime. Jackson, Jaylin White and Lafayette Whaley were charged with attempted murder, conspiracy to commit robbery and second-degree robbery.

"The plea agreement holds Mr. Jackson accountable for perpetrating a coldhearted violent act and provides justice for our victim," the district attorney's office said in a statement.

Two others, Jennifer McBride and Harold White, were both charged as accessories to attempted murder.

White has pleaded no contest to a felony weapons violation charge, the district attorney's office said. He's scheduled to be sentenced next year.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Man who shot Lady Gaga's dog walker sentenced to 21 years