LOS ANGELES — In the aftermath of the shooting, Lady Gaga offered a $500,000 reward for the dogs’ safe return, “no questions asked.”
The victim, a man in his 30s, was walking his dogs when the shooting happened around 9:40 p.m. in the 1500 block of North Sierra Bonita Avenue, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
Paramedics arrived to the scene and rushed the man to the hospital. His condition was not immediately known, but he appeared to be alert and talking to first responders.
While the victim was being treated on the sidewalk, he was cradling a third dog close to him, helicopter video showed. Another man was later seen removing the dog from the victim’s arms to comfort it.
Police said the suspect or suspects fled the scene, possibly in a white Nissan vehicle. A detailed description of the shooter was not available.
An LAPD spokesperson on Thursday said investigators have been unable to speak with Lady Gaga or her representatives to independently confirm that the dogs are owned by the singer.
The spokesperson noted that French bulldogs are currently in high demand and are a very valuable breed. Other thefts of French bulldogs have been reported recently in Los Angeles and it was unlikely that Lady Gaga was specifically targeted, police said.
The dog walker was shot once Wednesday night and is expected to survive his injuries, according to Los Angeles Police Capt. Jonathan Tippett, commanding officer of the department’s elite Robbery-Homicide Division. The man was walking three of Lady Gaga’s dogs at the time, but one escaped. That dog has been recovered safely.
Tippett told The Associated Press that the dogs belong to pop star Lady Gaga. It’s not yet clear if the dog walker was targeted because of his celebrity client, the captain said.
Police have not publicly identified the man shot. But he was identified to KTLA as 30-year-old Ryan Fischer by his friend, Steven Lazarav.
Lazarav said Fischer has been taking care of Lady Gaga’s dogs for years.
“He’s an awesome guy,” he said. “Not a mean bone in his body.”
Lady Gaga is offering the reward for the return of her dogs — whose names are Koji and Gustav — with no questions asked, according to her representative. An email address for tips, KojiandGustav@gmail.com, has been set up. The singer is currently in Rome to film a movie.
