A woman from Florida entered a plea of not guilty on Wednesday for the alleged attempted murder of Rihanna. Ivanna Lisette Ortiz, residing in Orlando, is facing multiple felony charges in Los Angeles Superior Court, to which she also pleaded not guilty through her legal representation.
According to prosecutors, the incident occurred on March 8 in the Beverly Hills area, where Ortiz, aged 35, arrived at the property occupied by the singing sensation Rihanna, her partner A$AP Rocky, and their three children. It is alleged that Ortiz fired approximately 20 rounds from an AR-15-style rifle into an exterior wall, resulting in charges including ten counts of assault with a semi-automatic firearm and three counts of shooting at an occupied vehicle or dwelling. If convicted on all charges, Ortiz could potentially face a life sentence.
During the court appearance, Ortiz, dressed in yellow jail attire with braided blond hair, appeared behind glass while her lawyer, Derek Ray Dillman, represented her. The lawyer entered the plea on her behalf, and Ortiz agreed to waive her right to a quick preliminary hearing.
In a bid to reduce her bail from $1.9 million US to $70,000 US based on her financial circumstances, Ortiz’s lawyer made a request, which was declined by Judge Theresa McGonigle. The prosecution argued against the reduction, stating that Ortiz posed a significant risk to the community and might attempt to flee.
Deputy district attorney Alexander Bott emphasized the severity of the case, referring to it as a dangerous and intentional act of shooting into occupied residences, which could have resulted in multiple fatalities. Upon Ortiz’s arrest shortly after the incident, she was found in possession of the rifle, additional ammunition, and a wig intended for disguise.
Public records indicate that Ortiz has been a licensed speech pathologist for over ten years. Following a request from the state attorney general, McGonigle ruled that Ortiz should be barred from practicing in California.
Both sides refrained from commenting to the press outside the courthouse, and an email seeking comment from Ortiz’s lawyer remained unanswered.
District attorney Nathan Hochman disclosed that at the time of the shooting, Rihanna and A$AP Rocky were together in an Airstream trailer, while Rihanna’s mother, their children, and staff members were in the main house. The charges against Ortiz include three counts of shooting at various dwellings, targeting Rihanna’s house, her trailer, and a neighboring residence. The assault charges encompass Rihanna, her family, two staffers, and two individuals in the adjacent house.
Hochman refrained from disclosing the exact impact points of the bullets, the motive behind the incident, or any potential link between Ortiz and Rihanna, citing ongoing investigations. He also mentioned that Ortiz’s social media activity leading up to the shooting was under scrutiny.
Rihanna, a renowned nine-time Grammy winner with multiple chart-topping hits, including “We Found Love” and “Work,” is also the founder of the successful makeup brand Fenty Beauty. In September, she and A$AP Rocky celebrated the birth of their third child, a daughter named Rocki Irish Mayers.