FBI investigating if Lady Gaga’s dog walker shooters had ‘political motive’
Lady Gaga in 2015 with her pet bulldog. (Getty)
The FBI is investigating if the assailants who shot Lady Gaga’s dog walker and stole two of her French bulldogs had a “political motive”.
Ryan Fischer, 30, was walking Gaga’s dogs Koji, Miss Asia and Gustav in West Hollywood at around 10pm on Wednesday night (25 February) when two men wearing baseball caps pulled up in a car and shot him in the chest.
They fled the scene with Koji and Gustav in tow, while Miss Asia was able to escape. She was later recovered by police.
Authorities are investigating whether Lady Gaga’s dogs may have been targeted for political reasons after the singer performed the national anthem at Joe Biden’s inauguration in January.
FBI officials who specialise in kidnapping and ransom cases are working with the Los Angeles Police Department to determine the motivation behind the attack, according to The Sun.
“Lady Gaga is high profile of course but she sang at President Biden’s inauguration which takes this case to another level,” a source told the publication.
“The FBI wants to know exactly what motivated this incident.”
However, it is also possible that the incident was a straightforward robbery, as French bulldogs – a highly in-demand breed – can sell for large amounts on the black market.
Lady Gaga is offering a $500,000 reward for the dogs’ return
Police are also investigating whether the thieves might have specifically targeted Gaga’s dogs as part of a ransom plot. The singer is reportedly offering a $500,000 “no questions asked” reward for the safe return of her pooches.
Video footage recorded by a home surveillance system and obtained by TMZ shows the shocking moment Fischer was attacked outside his home on Sierra Bonita Avenue, West Hollywood.
The recording shows a white Sedan pulling up beside him, with two people jumping out and telling him: “Give it up!”
Fischer fought to protect the dogs and began wrestling with his attackers, calling for help all the while – but he quickly dropped to the ground after being shot in the chest.
“Oh my God, help me!” he can be heard screaming in the shocking footage. “Help me, I’ve been shot!… I’m bleeding out of my chest!”
Fischer is expected to make a full recovery, but he is in a serious condition, according to media reports.
Lady Gaga is currently in Rome, Italy, where she is filming a new movie. An email address, [email protected], has been set up for anybody with information on the dogs’ whereabouts.
