A woman accused of attempting to murder global superstar Rihanna by opening fire on her Beverly Hills residence has entered a plea of not guilty to all charges. Ivanna Lisette Ortiz, a 35-year-old from Orlando, appeared in Los Angeles Superior Court on Wednesday, where she denied the allegations through her public defender.
Details of the Alleged Attack
According to police reports, Ortiz allegedly drove up to Rihanna's property on March 8 and discharged approximately twenty rounds from an AR-15 style rifle into a tall exterior wall. At the time of the shooting, Rihanna, her partner A$AP Rocky, and their three young children were present inside the home, located in the exclusive Beverly Hills area.
Multiple Felony Charges Filed
Prosecutors have charged Ortiz with a total of thirteen felony counts, including ten counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm and three counts of shooting at an occupied dwelling or vehicle. The three shooting counts specifically target Rihanna's main house, an Airstream trailer on the property, and a neighboring residence.
The assault charges encompass Rihanna, her family members, two staff members present during the incident, and two individuals in the adjacent house. If convicted on all counts, Ortiz could potentially face life imprisonment.
Court Proceedings and Bail Denial
During the court appearance, Ortiz waived her right to a speedy preliminary hearing while her attorney, Deputy Public Defender Derek Ray Dillman, requested a significant reduction in her bail from $1.9 million to $70,000. This request was based on Ortiz's claimed financial limitations.
Judge Theresa McGonigle rejected the bail reduction, maintaining the original amount after Deputy District Attorney Alexander Bott argued that Ortiz represented a substantial flight risk and danger to the community. Bott emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating that the deliberate shooting into occupied homes could have easily resulted in multiple fatalities.
Evidence and Investigation Details
When authorities arrested Ortiz hours after the shooting, they discovered her alone in her vehicle with the rifle, additional ammunition, and a wig that prosecutors allege she intended to use as a disguise. District Attorney Nathan Hochman confirmed that investigators are examining social media posts made by Ortiz in the days preceding the attack.
Hochman declined to disclose where the bullets ultimately landed, discuss potential motives, or describe any connection between Ortiz and Rihanna, stating these aspects remain under active investigation. At the state attorney general's request, Judge McGonigle also ruled that Ortiz should be prevented from practicing as a licensed speech pathologist in California, a profession she has held for over a decade according to public records.
Background on the Victims
Rihanna, a nine-time Grammy Award winner with fourteen number one hits on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, founded the successful makeup brand Fenty Beauty in 2017. She and A$AP Rocky welcomed their third child, a daughter named Rocki Irish Mayers, in September. Neither the prosecution nor defense attorneys commented to reporters following the court proceedings, and an email seeking comment from Dillman went unanswered.
