Five people were arrested Thursday in connection to the Feb. 24 dog napping of Lady Gaga’s dogs and the shooting of their walker, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) confirmed Thursday.
Three of the individuals, identified as James Jackson (18) , Jaylin White (19) and Lafayette Whaley (27), were each charged with one count of attempted murder, conspiracy to commit robbery and second-degree robbery. Harold White and Jennifer McBride, 40 and 50 years old respectively, were charged with one count each of accessory after the fact.
McBride turned in the missing dogs after a reward was posted for their safe return, claiming she had found them tied up. The LAPD then discovered her romantic ties to the father of one of the suspects, Harold White.
The motive behind the dognapping of the singer’s two french bulldogs was originally believed to be gang-related. Jackson, Whaley and Jaylin White and Harold White are all documented Los Angeles gang members, the LAPD noted.
Evidence later suggested the dog’s breed was the likely factor behind the robbery, and the suspects did not necessarily target Gaga.
Lady Gaga was not present at the scene of the crime. At the time, her dog walker, Ryan Fisher, was tending to the animals.
He was shot in the chest and hospitalized, later recalling his “close call with death” in a post to Instagram.
Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón called the incident a “brazen street crime that left a man seriously wounded” in a statement announcing the arrests.
“We have alleged very serious charges in this case and have faith that justice will be appropriately served as this case unfolds in court.”
The case is still an open investigation under the Los Angeles Police Department.