A 20-year-old defendant pleaded no contest on Dec. 5 to attempted murder and was immediately sentenced to 21 years in prison for shooting Lady Gaga’s dogwalker, Ryan Fischer, during a robbery in Hollywood on Feb. 24, 2021.

The defendant, James Howard Jackson, also admitted the allegation of inflicting great bodily injury, and having a prior strike on his record from an earlier felony conviction. A second defendant in the case, Harold White, pleaded no contest to one count of being an ex-convict in possession of a gun and will be sentenced next year, authorities said.

“The plea agreement holds Mr. Jackson accountable for perpetrating a coldhearted violent act and provides justice for our victim,” read a statement from the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. “The District Attorney’s Office works to hold to account anyone who commits violent acts in our community.”

Authorities believe Jackson was among a trio of men who saw Fischer walking three of the pop star’s French bulldogs on Feb. 24, 2021, in the 1500 block of North Sierra Bonita Avenue, just north of Sunset Boulevard. The suspects allegedly stopped their vehicle, got out and attempted to steal the dogs. Fischer resisted and one of the suspects – believed to be Jackson – shot him. The suspects fled with two of the bulldogs, Koji and Gustav.

Residents heard the gunshot and called police. Fischer was taken to a hospital and has since recovered.

Shortly after the shooting, Lady Gaga announced a $500,000 reward for dogs’ return. The dogs were later turned in to police unharmed and returned to Lady Gaga. Authorities said the suspects were attempting to steal dogs they considered to be valuable and did not know they belonged to the pop star.

Howard and two other suspects, Jaylin Keyshawn White and Lafayette Shon Whaley, were arrested on April 29, 2021. Jaylin White previously pleaded guilty to second-degree robbery and was sentenced to four years in prison. Whaley received a six-year sentence after also pleading guilty to second-degree robbery.

Harold White, the father of Jaylin White, was charged with being an accessory after the fact and illegal possession of a firearm.