A woman from Florida entered a plea of not guilty on Wednesday to the attempted murder of Rihanna. Ivanna Lisette Ortiz from Orlando also denied over a dozen other felony charges in the Los Angeles Superior Court. The prosecution claims that on March 8, Ortiz, 35, arrived at the Beverly Hills residence and fired around 20 shots from an AR-15-style rifle, targeting the exterior wall where the famous singer Rihanna, her partner A$AP Rocky, and their three children were present.
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 potentially face a life sentence. During the court appearance, Ortiz, dressed in yellow jail attire with braided blond hair, remained silent as her lawyer, Derek Ray Dillman, representing her, waived her right to a fast preliminary hearing.
The defense requested a bail reduction to $70,000 US from the current $1.9 million US, citing Ortiz’s financial circumstances. However, Judge Theresa McGonigle denied the request, emphasizing the risks posed by Ortiz to the community and the possibility of her fleeing.
Deputy district attorney Alexander Bott argued against the bail reduction, stating that the shooting incident was a deliberate and dangerous act that could have resulted in multiple fatalities. Ortiz was apprehended shortly after the shooting incident while in possession of the rifle, additional ammunition, and a wig intended for disguise.
Ortiz, a licensed speech pathologist for over ten years, has been prohibited from practicing in California as per the State Attorney General’s request. District attorney Nathan Hochman highlighted that Rihanna and A$AP Rocky were in an Airstream trailer during the shooting, while Rihanna’s family and staff were in the main house.
The charges against Ortiz include three counts of firing at dwellings, which encompass Rihanna’s house, her trailer, and a neighboring property. The assault charges involve Rihanna, her family, two staff members, and two individuals in the neighboring house. Hochman refrained from disclosing the bullet locations, the motive behind the shooting, or any connections between Ortiz and Rihanna, stating that investigations were ongoing.
Rihanna, a nine-time Grammy winner known for hits like “We Found Love” and “Umbrella,” co-founded Fenty Beauty in 2017. She and A$AP Rocky welcomed their third child, Rocki Irish Mayers, in September.
