The shooting of Lady Gaga 's dog walker and theft of two of her beloved French Bulldogs could have been gang related, cops are said to believe.
The singer, 34, offered a $500,000 reward for the return of her pets Koji and Gustavo when they were stolen in a terrifying incident last month.
Her dog walker Ryan Fischer, 30, was walking with the pets, as well as a third dog named Miss Asia, when he was shot by thieves.
Miss Asia ran away and was later found by police officers, but the others were taken, prompting Gaga to offer the huge reward for their safe return.
She called Ryan a hero and offered to pay for his medical bills.
Her dogs were later found "tied to a pole in an alley", but Gaga has not yet paid the reward until the woman who found them can be cleared of any involvement.
Sources have told TMZ that police believe the whole thing could have been part of some kind of gang initiation following a string of similar crimes in the LA area recently.
And the insiders say cops told Gaga she shouldn't pay out the reward money until they determine that the woman was not involved in the crime.
The publication says that while cops don't believe the woman was part of the dognapping, they still need to make sure she didn't have any involvement before Gaga hands over the money.
And it's said that Gaga will honour her promise to pay the reward if she's cleared.
Gaga is said to be "very emotional and grateful" to have her dogs back and for the recovery of Ryan.
She was filming in Rome at the time of the terrifying incident.
Ryan spoke of his "close call" with death as he shared pictures from his hospital bed in the aftermath.
He wrote: "4 days ago, while a car sped away and blood poured from my gun shot wound, an angel trotted over and laid next to me.
"My panicked screams calmed as I looked at her, even though it registered that the blood pooling around her tiny body was my own.
"I cradled Asia as best I could, thanked her for all the incredible adventures we’d been on together, apologized that I couldn’t defend her brothers, and then resolved that I would still try to save them… and myself.
"Hopeful that my calm(ish) and forceful pleas for the urgency of my care as well as the focused descriptions of the dogs would be enough to help me and get enough police and media attention to find the boys, I looked backed at my guardian angel. I smiled at her shaking form, thankful that at least she would be okay.
"From that point, right as the neighbors poured from their homes and restaurant to us on the sidewalk, life has taken a very sudden and unexpected turn. (Cont.)."
He added: "(2/2) I am still in recovery from a very close call with death and have kept myself (for the most part, I mean I am human) from the growing media story.
"I will write and say more later, but the gratitude for all the love I feel from around this planet is immense and intense.
"I felt your healing support! Thank you. I am humbled and grateful that attention and focus from the police were enough to get Koji and Gustav back to safety, and I know they are committed to bringing these criminals and attempted murderers to justice. I am so appreciative of everything you continue to do."
