Woman indicted in Rihanna home shooting for attempted murder
A Florida woman accused of firing an assault-style rifle at Rihanna's Los Angeles home in March has been indicted on attempted murder and 13 other felony counts, prosecutors said. No one was hurt. A judge also ruled she is mentally fit to stand trial, clearing the case to move forward.
Key Takeaways
- Ivanna Lisette Ortiz, 36, of Orlando was indicted on 14 felony counts, including attempted murder, after the March 8 shooting at Rihanna's Beverly Hills-area home.
- Prosecutors say she fired at least about 20 rounds from an AR-15-style rifle; Rihanna, A$AP Rocky, their children, and others were present, but no one was injured.
- A judge ruled Ortiz mentally competent to stand trial the day before the indictment was unsealed.
- She pleaded not guilty; bail was set at about $2.6 million, and she faces life in prison if convicted.
The indictment against Ortiz was unsealed Wednesday by the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office, according to ABC News. It charges one count of attempted murder, 10 felony counts of assault with an assault weapon, and three felony counts of shooting at an inhabited dwelling or camper.
The grand jury returned the indictment on June 18, ABC News reported, and it supersedes earlier charges filed in March. For more coverage of high-profile properties and celebrity homes, see BlasterPost's Luxury Real Estate & Dream Homes section.
What happened at Rihanna's home?
Authorities allege that on March 8 around 1:20 p.m., Ortiz drove a Tesla from Orlando to the Beverly Hills-area property and fired multiple rounds toward the house and a neighboring residence.
Investigators said bullets hit an Airstream trailer where Rihanna and A$AP Rocky were located, as well as the exterior wall of a nursery where their three children were with a nanny. Rihanna's mother and staff members were also inside the home, according to prosecutors and reporting from NBC News and the Los Angeles Times.
No one was killed or injured. Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman said it was "pure luck and not a matter of restraint" that the shooting caused no casualties.
Why does the indictment matter now?
The case had been delayed for more than four months while Ortiz underwent psychiatric evaluation. On Tuesday, Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Maria Cavalluzzi ruled Ortiz mentally competent to stand trial, the Los Angeles Times reported.
With competency cleared and the indictment unsealed, prosecutors can skip California's preliminary hearing process and move the case toward trial. Deputy District Attorney Alexander Bott said outside court: "This is a person who wanted to kill Rihanna. Everyone else was collateral damage."
Prosecutors have not publicly cited a motive or any personal connection between Ortiz and Rihanna. NBC News reported that after her arrest, Ortiz told investigators: "I wasn't attempting murder."
What happens next in court?
Ortiz appeared in court in jail clothing and entered a not guilty plea through her attorney. Bail was set at $2.65 million, according to the district attorney's office. A pretrial hearing is scheduled for Oct. 29 at the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center.
If convicted on the charges, Ortiz faces life in state prison. Psychiatric evaluation reports remain sealed, and details of her mental-health findings have not been discussed publicly.