James Howard Jackson, 18, who was accused in court documents of shooting during the theft of Gaga’s dogs in February 2021, was released on Wednesday after appearing in court and detention records show that charges against him were rejected. It was not clear why the cases had to be exchanged. The Los Angeles County Attorney’s Office said late Thursday that the dismissed charges needed to be replaced by an indictment replaced by the grand jury that was unsealed during Wednesday’s hearing. Several sources familiar with the proceedings said that it appeared that the replaced case had not been registered against Jackson. Jackson, along with Jaylin Keyshawn White, 19, and Lafayette Shon Whaley, 27, were charged last year with attempted murder, second-degree robbery and conspiracy to rob Ryan Fischer. Jackson – the alleged gunman – is also charged with assault with a semi-automatic firearm and a criminal carrying a concealed firearm in a vehicle, while White also faces a violent assault that could result in serious bodily harm. Jackson was released after five people were initially arrested in connection with the case and authorities said four of them were gang members. Two of the French pop star’s bulldogs were abducted during the attack and the shootings, and Fischer was seriously injured in the attack. Gaga offered a half-million-dollar reward for the dogs’ return, and eventually a woman showed up at a LAPD station with the dogs and tried to claim the reward. The dogs and Gaga reunited as police continued the investigation and eventually detectives said they were able to link the woman who claimed the reward to the others. At the time of the arrests, LAPD officials said they did not believe the suspects were targeting the victim because of the dog’s owner. “Evidence shows that the suspects were aware of the great value of the dog breed,” and that “was the motive for the robbery,” police said.
