Graphic video has been released of the moment Lady Gaga’s dog walker was shot by attackers who stole the star’s pets.
WARNING – STORY CONTAINS GRAPHIC CONTENT
Ryan Fischer is heard repeatedly screaming: “Oh my God! I’ve been shot!”
He also cries: “Help me!” and “I’m bleeding out from my chest!”.
The film, given to Associated Press (AP) by what it called “a Hollywood resident”, shows Wednesday night’s robbery in which three of Lady Gaga’s dogs were stolen.
The singer is offering a $500,000 (£360,000) reward with no questions asked, according to her representative.
Lady Gaga with her dogs in 2020. Pic: @ladygaga
Mr Fischer, Lady Gaga’s friend, was shot once as he walked the star’s French bulldogs Koji, Miss Asia and Gustav in West Hollywood.
All three were taken but Miss Asia escaped and has since been recovered safely.
The robbers, who used a semi-automatic gun, fled in a white Nissan Altima, Los Angeles Police said.
Mr Fischer is expected to survive his injuries, according to Los Angeles Police Captain Jonathan Tippett.
Captain Tippett said it wasn’t clear if he was targeted because of his celebrity client, but confirmed the pets belonged to the pop star.
CCTV showed Ryan Fischer as he was attacked during the robbery. Pic: CHARLEY WALTERS
As well as the reward, an email address for tips has been set up to help the singer, who is currently in Rome to film a movie, recover the remaining dogs.
Captain Steven Lurie, commanding officer of the department’s Hollywood Division, said police were called to North Sierra Bonita Avenue, off Sunset Boulevard, around 9.40pm on Wednesday following several 911 calls reporting a man screaming and the sound of a gunshot.
The victim was walking the dogs when the Nissan pulled over and two men tried to steal the animals, police said.
Video captured by home security cameras shows the white sedan pulling up next to the dog walker and two men in dark clothing getting out.The men appear to struggle with the shouting walker.
One man then pulls what appears to be a gun and a shot is heard before the men jump into the car and flee.
Charley Walters, who released the footage to AP, said his boyfriend Carlos Pantoja called 911 and can be seen on the video at the dog walker’s side waiting for police to arrive.
Lady Gaga, who performed at Joe Biden’s inauguration ceremony, has shared pictures of herself with her pets on social media over the last few years, and as the COVID-19 pandemic hit the US in March 2020 she posted to say she was “hanging at home with my dogs”.
In recent months, animal charities have reported an increase in dog thefts in the UK as demand surged during lockdown.
Sky News has contacted Lady Gaga’s representatives for comment.
Anyone with information about the dogs can email KojiandGustav@gmail.com