Woman accused of shooting at Rihanna’s L.A. home is charged with attempted murder
Woman accused of shooting at Rihanna’s L.A. home is charged with attempted murder
On Tuesday, a Florida woman named Ivanna Ortiz, 35, was formally charged with attempted murder after allegedly opening fire on Rihanna’s residence in Los Angeles with an AR-15-style rifle, according to prosecutors. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office also listed her with 10 counts of assault involving a semiautomatic firearm and three felony charges related to targeting inhabited dwellings during the attack.
Special sentencing allegations were added to each charge, including personal firearm discharge and firearm use. District Attorney Nathan Hochman stated that the incident involved 10 victims: Rihanna, her partner A$AP Rocky, their three children, three household staff members, and two individuals from a nearby home that was also targeted. No injuries were reported during the shooting, which occurred in the Beverly Crest neighborhood.
Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell confirmed that the attack was carried out using an AR-15 rifle. Neighbors reported seeing a woman possibly wearing a wig driving a white Tesla near Rihanna’s property before the gunfire began. The gate, the Airstream trailer, and the neighbor’s home all showed signs of being hit by bullets, he said. Automatic license plate recognition helped officers locate Ortiz, who was found in Sherman Oaks behind the wheel of the same Tesla during a traffic stop.
“The suspect invoked a right to counsel and made no statements,” McDonnell added.
Inside the vehicle, police discovered an AR-15 rifle, spent casings, and a blond wig. Additional ammunition, including a 30-round magazine, was found in the trunk. Ortiz’s arraignment is set for later this month, with bail established at $1.875 million. If convicted, she could face life imprisonment.
State records in Florida indicate that Ivanna Ortiz is a licensed speech-language pathologist currently in good standing. Her divorce papers reference a 2023 incident of violence, where she allegedly sent a message to her ex-husband saying, “You’ll be socked on the nose tonight.” Cellphone video reportedly shows Ortiz using a homophobic slur against him during the confrontation.
The Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office announced it has been assigned to represent Ortiz, though it declined to comment as the case is under review. “We will work to ensure our client receives constitutional protections,” the office said.
Rihanna and A$AP Rocky were residing in an Airstream trailer on the property at the time of the incident. Hochman emphasized that anyone who decides to shoot into a community will be held accountable, as stated during a news conference outside the county courthouse in downtown Los Angeles.
Dennis Romero is a breaking news reporter for NBC News Digital.
