A Florida woman entered a not guilty plea on Wednesday for the attempted murder of Rihanna. Ivanna Lisette Ortiz, residing in Orlando, also denied over a dozen felony charges in Los Angeles Superior Court through her legal representative.
The prosecution claims that Ortiz, 35, allegedly targeted the singing sensation Rihanna, her partner A$AP Rocky, and their three children in an assault at their Beverly Hills residence on March 8. It is alleged that Ortiz arrived at the property and discharged approximately 20 rounds from an AR-15-style rifle into an external wall.
Ortiz faces charges including 10 counts of assault with a semi-automatic firearm and three counts of shooting at an occupied vehicle or dwelling. If found guilty on all charges, she could receive a life sentence.
During the court appearance, Ortiz, dressed in yellow jail attire with braided blond hair, appeared behind glass in custody. Her attorney, Derek Ray Dillman, entered the plea on her behalf, and Ortiz agreed to waive her right to a speedy preliminary hearing.
In a request for a bail reduction to $70,000 US from $1.9 million US, Ortiz’s lawyer argued based on her financial capabilities. However, Judge Theresa McGonigle rejected the request, keeping the bail amount unchanged.
The prosecution opposed the bail reduction, citing Ortiz as a significant community risk prone to fleeing. Deputy district attorney Alexander Bott emphasized the severity of the case, describing the shooting as dangerous and intentional, with the potential for multiple fatalities.
Ortiz was arrested shortly after the incident, found alone in her vehicle with the rifle, additional rounds, and a wig for disguise, according to Bott. Public records indicate Ortiz as a licensed speech pathologist for over a decade, but she has been barred from practicing in California at the state attorney general’s request.
District attorney Nathan Hochman highlighted that Rihanna and A$AP Rocky were in an Airstream trailer during the shooting, while family members, including children and staffers, were in the main house. The charges of firing at a dwelling encompass Rihanna’s house, the trailer, and a neighboring residence, with assault counts against various individuals.
Hochman refrained from disclosing the motive or any connection between Ortiz and Rihanna, stating ongoing investigations into the matter. He mentioned ongoing scrutiny of Ortiz’s social media activity preceding the shooting.
Rihanna, a nine-time Grammy winner known for hits like “We Found Love” and “Umbrella,” has a successful makeup brand, Fenty Beauty. She and A$AP Rocky welcomed their third child, Rocki Irish Mayers, in September.
Neither side communicated with reporters outside the courthouse, and a request for comment from Ortiz’s attorney remained unanswered.