A woman from Florida entered a plea of not guilty on Wednesday for the attempted murder of Rihanna. Ivanna Lisette Ortiz from Orlando also denied more than a dozen felony charges in Los Angeles Superior Court. The incident took place in Beverly Hills on March 8, where Ortiz allegedly fired approximately 20 shots from an AR-15-style rifle at Rihanna, her partner A$AP Rocky, and their children.
Ortiz faces multiple charges, including 10 counts of assault with a semi-automatic firearm and three counts of shooting at an occupied vehicle or dwelling. If convicted on all charges, she could potentially receive a life sentence. Represented by her lawyer, Derek Ray Dillman, Ortiz appeared in court wearing jail attire and agreed to waive her right to a swift preliminary hearing.
During the hearing, her attorney requested a reduction in bail from $1.9 million to $70,000, citing her financial situation. However, the judge rejected the plea, considering Ortiz a flight risk and a danger to the community. Deputy district attorney Alexander Bott emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating that the shooting posed a severe threat to the occupants of the homes.
Ortiz was apprehended with the rifle, additional ammunition, and a wig for disguise shortly after the shooting. Despite being a licensed speech pathologist for over a decade, she has been barred from practicing in California as per the state attorney general’s request. The prosecution and defense did not provide any comments to the media after the court proceedings.
District attorney Nathan Hochman disclosed that the shooting targeted Rihanna’s residence, the trailer where she and Rocky were, and a neighboring house. The charges encompass assault on Rihanna, her family, staff, and individuals in the neighboring property. The motive behind the attack and any connection between Ortiz and Rihanna remain under investigation, including Ortiz’s social media activities leading up to the incident.
Rihanna, a renowned artist with numerous accolades, including nine Grammy Awards and multiple chart-topping hits, has refrained from commenting on the issue. She co-parents a newborn daughter, Rocki Irish Mayers, with A$AP Rocky.