When news broke that a woman opened fire on Rihanna and A$AP Rocky's home, fans were ready to see the alleged shooter punished for her actions. Now things are starting to move through court, and she could spend life in prison. Ivanna Lisette Ortiz is now facing an attempted murder charge.
© Backgrid/The Grosby GroupThe 36-year-old was indicted by a Los Angeles County grand jury in connection with the March shooting at Rihanna’s Beverly Crest home. The indictment, which was returned June 18, was unsealed Wednesday, Sept. 30.
Ortiz is facing one count of attempted murder, 10 counts of assault with an assault weapon and three counts of shooting at an inhabited dwelling or camper, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
She pleaded not guilty and remains jailed on $2.65 million bail. Her next court appearance is scheduled for Oct. 29. If convicted, Ortiz faces up to life in prison.
What happened?
© HIGHFIVE/Bauer-GriffinThe charges stem from the March 8 shooting, when prosecutors allege Ortiz pulled up outside Rihanna’s home and opened fire with a semiautomatic rifle.
Rihanna, A$AP Rocky and their three children were at the property at the time. The singer and Rocky were inside an Airstream trailer when the gunfire erupted, according to a police report obtained by the Los Angeles Times.
Rihanna told investigators she heard about 10 loud sounds, grabbed Rocky and pushed them both to the ground before the couple went to check on their children.
The bullets hit multiple areas around the property, including the Airstream. Three bullet impacts were found on the trailer, although the rounds did not penetrate it.
Authorities also documented damage to the property’s gate, fence, patio, and the exterior wall of a nursery where the children were located.
© Orange County Sheriff's officeOrtiz was arrested in Sherman Oaks shortly after the shooting. Police say she was driving the same white Tesla allegedly used in the incident and found a black Springfield Armory rifle and two 30-round magazines in the vehicle.
The case took an unexpected pause months later when Ortiz’s public defender questioned whether she was competent to stand trial. “It is the ethical obligation of counsel and the court to ensure that Ms. Ortiz’s rights are protected, including being able to assist counsel in conducting a defense in a rational manner,” Dillman told The Associated Press.
After a court-ordered evaluation, a judge ruled on Sept. 29 that Ortiz was competent, allowing the criminal proceedings to continue. The details of the evaluation remain sealed.
© Backgrid/The Grosby GroupOrtiz has also reportedly denied that she was trying to kill Rihanna. According to the Los Angeles Times, she told police after her arrest that she “wasn’t attempting murder.”
Prosecutors have not publicly identified a motive, but Ortiz had made several social media posts about Rihanna in the weeks before the shooting.
One post tagged the singer and told her to “say something to me directly instead of sneaking around.” She also shared a post making a false claim about Rihanna’s health.
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman addressed the seriousness of the case following the indictment. “Every person deserves to feel safe in and around their home,” Hochman said. “Shooting at an occupied home is a serious, violent crime that is both reckless and dangerous.”
Hochman added that it was “pure luck and not a matter of restraint” that nobody was killed or injured. No one was physically injured in the shooting, but the fact that Rihanna, Rocky and their children were home when the gunfire erupted added an extra layer of terrifying details.
© GettyThe rapper later opened up about the incident with VIBE, calling it "f**ked up." “Somebody attempted at [harming] me and my family," he said. “It took away a lot of peace and happiness of being able to just be free."
