December 5th was an emotional day for Lady Gaga and her dog walker, Ryan Fischer.
The dog walker to Gaga’s three French bulldogs appeared in a Los Angeles County courtroom on Monday to face his attempted murderer, James Howard Jackson.
Fischer gave a victim impact statement in court and also shared it to his Instagram.
Ryan Fischer Gives Heartbreaking Victim Impact Statement
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It was highly emotional and extremely candid.
He captioned the post, “Today was an emotional one, and it’s been a long journey to get to here. I’ll comment more in the coming days, but here is the impact statement I gave in court to the man who shot me. Thank you to everyone who has supported me along the road that helped me reach this point. You really have carried me through the darkest times to find the light again 🙏🏼❤️.”
He Recounted The Night He Was Strangled, Beaten & Left To Die
The impact statement read, “It’s hard to believe that it’s nearing 2 years since I was taking Asia, Koji, and Gustav out for an evening stroll when- in an instant- I suddenly found myself fighting with everything I had to protect those dogs from being stolen. But it wasn’t enough: I was beaten, strangled, shot and left to die bleeding out on a sidewalk and gasping for my life. And Koji and Gustav were gone.”
He revealed that his body went through hell and back following the near-death encounter and he’s still working with a physical therapist to get mobility and sensation fully restored in his shoulder, chest and hand.
Fischer said he lost a career, friendships, sense of self and savings and aimlessly traveled the country for over a year.
“I went into debt, contemplated suicide, and struggled – and continue to struggle – with my identity and how to move past such a life-changing, earth shattering event…” his statement continued.
Read The Entire Impact Statement
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Speaking directly to Jackson he said, “A part of me is still desperately trying to save those dogs knowing you were going to shoot me. I’m sure it feels the same for you, Mr. Jackson. I imagine you’re on that sidewalk sometimes too. You shot me and left me to die, and both of our lives have changed forever. A limbo neither of us asked to be in.”
Despite the pain, traruma and continued suffering, Fischer also reflected on what he’s gained since the attack.
He explained he has “a deeper love for friends and family that have shown up and continue to show up even when I’m still such a mess.”
Fischer still loves dogs and is working to reincorporate them into his life, he has gratitude for “strangers that became family and have supported me in countless ways.”
He’s forgiven himself for not being able to save Gaga’s dogs that night, “falling down again and again these last two years,” friends who didn’t and don’t know how to be there for him, and Jackson.
Fischer Reveals He Has Forgiven His Attacker
Fischer admitted he’s forgiven his attacker.
“And forgiveness for you. It’s something I’m still working on but I do forgive you and everyone involved in the attack. You completely altered my life, and I know I can’t fully move forward from the night you shot me until I said those words to you,” he admitted. “My hope for you is the same for me: to live a life of purpose and grow from what happened that night.”
Fischer also thanked Jackson for not killing or harming Gaga’s dogs.
In addition, he used this opportunity to give a PSA about the gun issue happening in the US.
Jackson was sentenced to 21 years in a Los Angeles County prison.
