Los Angeles, California - It was the worst nightmare of any dog owner: Lady Gaga's four-legged friends were kidnapped last month in Los Angeles in a brutal attack. But as her dog walker is recovering from being shot during the robbery, police are uncovering new clues that may point to a larger problem of violence on the city's streets.

Law enforcement now believes that the robbery of the pop star's dogs may be involved in a string of street gang violence that has become increasingly rampant in LA.

Ryan Fischer was attacked and shot when he was walking Gaga's three bulldogs in West Hollywood. Two of the dogs were taken, for which Gaga offered a $500,000 reward.

A woman recovered the two missing dogs a few days later, and claimed she had no connection with the attackers.

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As the world wonders who could be behind the brutal crime, TMZ has reported that the shooting looks like an act of gang initiation – a way for new members to prove their loyalty to a group.

Police confirmed that violent crime has risen significantly this year.

After watching video surveillance footage of Fischer's attack, there is speculation that shooting the victim may have actually been the main goal of the operation. He was not standing close to the dogs when he was shot and the men could have easily captured the dogs without physically harming Fischer.

Other recent crimes in LA have shown a trend of needless shootings during similar robberies.

At the request of police, Gaga has reportedly not yet paid the promised reward to the woman who returned her precious pups. They want to be sure that there is no connection between her good deed and the attackers.

Whether the attackers knew that the dogs belonged to the celebrity and stole them in hopes of a large reward for their return is still unknown.

Until the case is officially closed, questions about the crime and the larger problem it points to remain.