Lady Gaga’s dog walker is in a stable condition and breathing on his own
Lady Gaga’s dog walker is breathing on his own and is expected to make full recovery after being shot in the chest by attackers who abducted her French bulldogs – as his family thank singer for showing him ‘non-stop love and concern’
- Ryan Fischer, 30, was shot once on Wednesday night while walking Gaga’s three French bulldogs, Gustav, Koji and Miss Asia
- Home surveillance cameras caught the moment he was attacked, yelling ‘no!’ and ‘help!’ as two masked men attacked him in the street
- They first beat him, punching him to the ground, then shot him before fleeing with Gustav and Koji
- Miss Asia evaded them then returned to Fischer once they had gone; Fischer was found clinging to her, covered in blood
- He is in the hospital where he is in a stable condition and breathing on his own, according to a friend and former client
- Fischer’s family thanked Lady Gaga in a statement for her ‘non-stop love and concern for Ryan’
- She is ‘devastated’ and has offered a $500,000 ‘no questions asked’ reward for the dogs’ safe return
- LAPD say they are searching for two black men in their 20s, one of them with blonde dreadlocks, who fled in white Nissan Altima
Lady Gaga’s dog walker is in stable condition and is said to be breathing on his own less than 48 hours after being shot once in the chest by assailants who then took off with two of the singer’s three French bulldogs.
The family of Ryan Fischer, 30, released a statement to media outlets on Friday, saying that he was expected to fully recover from his injuries in the aftermath of the violent attack.
Lady Gaga’s dogs, Koji and Gustavo, have not been recovered as of late Friday afternoon, despite a $500,000 reward being offered for their safe return by the award-winning performer.
The pair of dognappers, described by the Los Angeles Police Department as men in their 20s wearing dark clothing, remained at large.
Fischer’s relatives thanked first responders and medical staff for taking care of him, and also the Poker Face singer, who is currently shooting a movie in Rome.
A grainy still from the neighbor’s doorbell cameras shows the two attackers punch Lady Gaga’s dog walker, Ryan Fischer, to the ground on Wednesday night, shortly before 10pm
The white sedan waited with its lights on while the two attackers shot Fischer then grabbed Koji and Gustav. Miss Asia evaded them then returned to Fischer as he lay on the ground, writhing in pain
‘Ryan is receiving extraordinary care in the hospital right now and his doctors expect him to make a full recovery,’ the statement to TMZ reads. ‘We cannot possibly say enough to thank all of the first responders, nurses and doctors who have worked so tirelessly to care for Ryan.
‘Of course, we also want to thank Lady Gaga who has shown nothing but non-stop love and concern for Ryan and our family right from the outset. Ryan loves Gustavo and Koji as much as Lady Gaga does; so we join in her plea for their safe return.’
Meanwhile, Fischer’s former client and friend, Dr Fred Pescatore, told People Magazine he received a text message from him on Thursday, saying that he was breathing on his own at the hospital.
Pescatore described the 30-year-old dog walker to the stars as a talented artist, writer and musician in his own right, and a selfless person.
‘There’s nothing negative about that man,’ he said of Fischer.
Fischer, 30 (pictured left with Koji and Miss Asia), survived the single gunshot wound. He was found (right) clinging to Miss Asia, covered in blood. The dog was shaking
Fischer’s family thanked Lady Gaga (pictured walking Miss Asia in 2015) for her ‘non-stop love and concern’
Pescatore, who used to leave his beagle, Remington, in Fischer’s care when he lived in New York City, added that he is amazing with dogs.
‘He’s very in tune with the dogs’ needs. He would do anything for them, anything,’ he said.
A neighbor’s doorbell camera captured Fischer being attacked by two armed men while walking Lady Gaga’s three French bulldogs, Koji, Gustav and Miss Asia, at 10pm on Wednesday in West Hollywood.
They shot him once in the chest with a handgun, snatched Koji and Gustav and fled. Miss Asia evaded them initially then, once they had fled, ran back to Fischer as he lay on the ground, screaming: ‘Help! I’ve been shot!’
When Gaga learned that her dogs had been snatched, she immediately offered a $500,000, ‘no questions asked’ reward which law enforcement experts have criticized. They say it may not only jeopardize the investigation but also create a market for opportunistic criminals to target and kidnap celebrity pets then return them for handsome rewards.
Los Angeles Police Capt. Jonathan Tippet confirmed to People that Fischer suffered a single gunshot wound to the chest and was in the hospital in a stable condition.
Police are now hunting the kidnappers, who has been described as two black men between the ages of 20-25.
Fischer, pictured above with Gaga’s dogs, on Thursday texted a friend from the hospital, saying he was breathing on his own. He is expected to make a full recovery
A friend described Fischer was a gifted artist and musician who is devoted to dogs
One of them has blond dreadlocks and was last seen wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, and armed with a semi-automatic handgun.
They fled the scene in a white Nissan Altima four-door sedan.
Tippett said it is believed they targeted Fischer with the intention of stealing his famous client’s dogs. The victim’s wallet, which he was carrying with him, was not stolen.
Danny Trejo, the actor who starred with Gaga in the film Machete Kills, said on Friday morning it was obvious she had been targeted.
‘People don’t just drive around say, “hey look there’s two dogs”. They targeted her,’ he said during a brief appearance on Today.
These are the last photos of Gaga, taken in Rome on Wednesday night. She has been holed up in her hotel room ever since the incident and is said to be ‘devastated’
The doorbell camera video shows Fischer walking down the street with the three dogs then becoming startled when the attackers suddenly stopped their white sedan.
Danny Trejo, the actor who starred with Gaga in the film Machete Kills, said on Friday morning it was obvious she had been targeted
They approached him quickly and started beating him while he tried to protect the dogs, yelling: ‘No!’ and screaming at the top of his lungs.
Fischer was still on the ground, wailing, when he was shot once. The attackers then drove away quickly, leaving him on the street.
Fischer was found by neighbors, covered in blood and clinging to Miss Asia. He was then taken to the hospital and Miss Asia was taken into the care of the authorities temporarily.
Gaga is said to be ‘devastated’ by the incident. She remains holed up in her hotel room in Rome, where she is filming the new movie, Gucci.
‘Lady Gaga is beside herself about this situation,’ a source told ET. ‘Ryan is not only her dog walker, but also her friend. She is horrified that this happened.’
‘She is completely devastated and sickened by this,’ the source said, adding that the singer’s dogs are like ‘ her babies’.
Surveillance footage captured from a neighbor’s home shows a white sedan pulling up alongside the 30-year-old, and two attackers, dressed in dark clothing, climbing out of the back seat
LAPD Capt. Jonathan Tippet confirmed that Fischer was shot once but said he’s expected to survive
Miss Asia was taken into the care of the authorities while Fischer was rushed to the hospital on Wednesday night
Miss Asia was said to have been ‘shaking’ when she was found in Fischer’s arms on the sidewalk. Neighbors said Fischer was clinging on to her so tightly they had to ‘pry’ the dog from his arms to attend to his injuries before paramedics arrived
Ryan Fischer was shot once outside of his home in West Hollywood on Wednesday night as he was walking Gaga’s three dogs
The location of the shooting is shown in the above map. It happened outside a home in the 1500 block if Sierra Bonita Avenue
‘She feels somewhat helpless because she is far away in Italy, but is doing everything she can and praying for Ryan, Koji and Gustavo.’
It’s unclear if she intends to return to the US this week.
She has not yet released a public statement, but has put up a $500,000 reward for the dogs’ safe return. The move was criticized on Thursday by law enforcement experts who suggested it was premature.
Frank Montoya Jr., who worked in the FBI between 1991 and 2016 after serving in the army, told DailyMail.com that Gaga’s reward not only put the investigation at risk, but opened up a market for criminals to start stealing celebrity dogs and returning them for high ransoms.
‘It’s always been an option for opportunistic criminals.
‘But…paying, no questions asked, can open up a Pandora’s box of sorts. She should give the investigation a chance.
‘After all, the dogs notwithstanding, a human being was shot,’ he said. The LAPD is refusing to comment on whether or not celebrity pet-knapping.
Fischer, who runs a social media account called Valley Of The Dogs, had been watching Gaga’s French bulldogs while she’s away filming the new Ridley Scott movie in Rome, Italy.
Her co-star Adam Driver was pictured on set on Thursday, while Gaga reportedly remained in her hotel room. The Academy-Award-nominated actress is believed to be staying at luxurious Baglioni Hotel Regina.
Driver plays Maurizio Gucci, the grandson of Gucci fashion brand founder Guccio Gucci in the film, which follows the aftermath of his murder.
Lady Gaga plays his ex-wife Patrizia Reggiani, who was convicted of hiring a hitman to kill her husband in 1995.
Just six days ago, Fischer had posted a video to Instagram of himself singing to Gaga’s pups, and tagged Miss Asia’s official Instagram page. He has previously posted images of the dogs on a number of other occasions.
French bulldogs are in high demand and sell for anywhere between $3,000-$5,000. Those with pedigree lineage can also go for as much as $10,000.
Gaga is pictured above with her beloved dogs Koji, Miss Asia and Gustav in a posts previously shared to Instagram
Gaga is pictured with Koji and Asia in 2017 after touching down in LAX airport, in Los Angeles
