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Florida woman enters not guilty plea in Rihanna mansion shooting
Ivanna Lisette Ortiz, 35, has denied charges of attempted murder and multiple firearms offenses after allegedly firing a semiautomatic rifle at the Beverly Crest residence of pop star Rihanna on March 8.
Allegations and charges
Ortiz is accused of targeting Rihanna, her partner A$AP Rocky, their three young children, and several others present at the property and an adjacent home. Court documents state she discharged approximately 20 rounds from an AR-style weapon at 1:15 p.m. local time (9:15 p.m. GMT). No injuries were reported.
Prosecutors allege Ortiz planned the attack, citing a wig found in her possession that they claim was intended as a disguise. The Los Angeles County District Attorney's office emphasized the severity of the charges, which include 10 counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm and three counts of shooting at an inhabited dwelling.
Court proceedings and detention
Ortiz, a licensed speech pathologist, appeared in Los Angeles County Superior Court on Wednesday via her attorney to enter her plea. She remains in custody with bail set at $1.875 million (£1.4 million). A request by her public defender to reduce bail was denied.
A judge also barred Ortiz from practicing as a speech pathologist in California during the proceedings. Her next court appearance is scheduled for April 8 for a preliminary hearing.
Incident details
According to the criminal complaint, Ortiz drove to the front of Rihanna's mansion and fired multiple shots before fleeing the scene. Authorities located her white Tesla approximately eight miles away at a Sherman Oaks shopping center, where she was arrested.
The complaint identifies the intended victims as Rihanna (Robyn Fenty), A$AP Rocky (Rakim Mayers), their three children, Rihanna's mother Monica Fenty, and other individuals present at the time.
Potential consequences
If convicted, Ortiz faces a maximum sentence of life in prison. Each assault count corresponds to a specific individual she allegedly targeted, according to court records.
Responses and next steps
Neither Ortiz's attorney nor representatives for Rihanna and A$AP Rocky responded to requests for comment from the BBC. The case is expected to proceed with further legal arguments and evidence presentations in the coming weeks.
