The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office confirmed early Friday morning that 19-year-old James Howard Jackson was accidentally released from custody on Wednesday due to a “graphic error.”
Jackson is accused of shooting and injuring Lady Gaga’s dog and was charged with attempted murder.
Photos of 19-year-old James Howard Jackson. (Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office)
The mistake was made when Jackson was indicted and later dismissed, according to Los Angeles County Attorney Greg Riesling. Jackson was referred to the Clara Shortridge Center for Criminal Justice in that new indictment on Tuesday.
“Our office charged Mr Jackson on Tuesday to expedite legal proceedings. He was referred to the prosecution with a new case number,” said a statement from the Los Angeles County Attorney’s Office. “Mr. Jackson was later released by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. We’re not sure why they did it, but our office is working with the Sheriff’s Department to get Mr. Jackson back.”
As of Friday, Jackson remains at large and authorities are still working to find him, the sheriff’s office confirmed.
On the night of February 24, 2021, Ryan Fischer was walking with Lady Gaga’s three French bulldogs on the 1500 block of North Sierra Bonita Avenue, just outside Sunset Boulevard, when a sedan came next to him, two suspects appeared and stole two of the bulldogs. , Gustave and Koji.
During the chaos, as Fisher was trying to fight the men, he was shot once in the chest. He survived and the stolen dogs were later found.
In April 2021, just over two months after the shooting, five people, including Jackson, were arrested in connection with the case. Jackson is believed to be the gunman who opened fire on Fisher, authorities say.
