A$AP Rocky has shared new details about how he and Rihanna are raising their three children and coping after a traumatic shooting at their Beverly Hills home earlier this year. In a wide-ranging interview published Tuesday with Vibe, the 37-year-old rapper, whose real name is Rakim Athelaston Mayers, described the March 8 incident as deeply unsettling.
The Shooting Incident
Speaking about the attack, in which a suspect used an AR-15-style rifle, A$AP Rocky said: 'It was f***ed up ... somebody attempted at [harming] me and my family.' He was in an Airstream trailer on the property at the time. 'It took away a lot of peace and happiness of being able to just be free. I don't want to be robbed of my peace and joy,' he added.
The suspect, Ivanna Lisette Ortiz, 35, faces multiple charges including attempted murder. She pleaded not guilty on March 25 in Los Angeles Superior Court and remains in custody on $1.875 million bail. If convicted, she faces life in prison.
Parenting Philosophy
A$AP Rocky, who shares sons RZA (four), Riot (two), and daughter Rocki (eight months) with Rihanna, 38, emphasized the importance of keeping their children grounded. 'I want to make sure that I teach my boys discipline and keep them grounded, keep them humble as much as possible,' he said. 'I got to make sure they chill with their cousins, the rough cousins that's going keep them on their toes.'
He noted that neither he nor Rihanna grew up in immense wealth, and he wants to ensure their children are not 'considered nepo babies' as they age. The rapper focuses on being 'emotionally present, emotionally available, receptive, still endearing, but not only that, loving' for his kids.
Welcoming Their Daughter
A$AP Rocky described the birth of their daughter last fall as a memorable experience. 'It was just so exciting because you just don't know what to prepare for. You don't know what's to come, so the second and third time was really similar to the first experience.' He added that they were in good spirits during labor: 'We were laughing while she was in labor, literally laughing and cracking jokes and s***.'
Emotional Aftermath
Following the shooting, sources told People that Rihanna was experiencing multiple emotions. 'Rihanna heard the shots, but was initially confused about what happened. She doesn't understand why someone would target her family,' a source said. Another insider noted she was 'freaking the f out' after the potentially deadly incident.
Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman announced on March 10 that Ortiz was charged with one count of attempted murder, 10 counts of assault with a semi-automatic firearm, and three counts of shooting into an inhabited dwelling or camper. The 10 assault counts correspond to each person allegedly in the line of fire, including Rihanna, Rocky, their three children, Rihanna's mother, two staff members, and two individuals in a neighboring residence.
Although no one was injured, a law enforcement official told the Los Angeles Times that Rihanna and Rocky 'easily could have been hit.' Judge Theresa McGonigle set Ortiz's bail at $1,875,000 and ordered her to stay away from the couple and surrender all firearms. LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell said the motive remains under investigation.
Ortiz has previously shared online messages targeting Rihanna, including threatening posts on Facebook. She also has a prior arrest in Florida for domestic violence, careless driving, and violating pretrial release conditions.
