Woman pleads not guilty after shooting at Rihanna’s Los Angeles home

A woman accused of attempting to murder Rihanna after a shooting at the singer’s home has pleaded not guilty in court.

Ivanna Lisette Ortiz, 35, from Orlando, Florida, faces multiple charges linked to the incident, which took place on 8 March at a property in Los Angeles. Through her attorney, she entered a not guilty plea to all counts at Los Angeles Superior Court.

Ortiz is charged with one count of attempted murder in relation to Rihanna, along with 10 counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm and three counts of shooting at an occupied vehicle or dwelling. If convicted on all charges, she faces life in prison.

Prosecutors said the shooting happened while Rihanna and her partner A$AP Rocky were on the property. At the time, they were inside an Airstream trailer, while Rihanna’s mother, their children and staff members were in the main house.

Police said that around 20 shots were fired at the home, which is located in the Beverly Crest neighbourhood. Despite the number of shots, no one was injured.

District Attorney Nathan Hochman had previously outlined the situation, confirming that several people were present at the property during the incident.

During the court hearing, Ortiz appeared behind glass in a custody area. She wore yellow prison clothing and had her hair in braids. She spoke only to confirm that she would waive her right to a speedy preliminary hearing, which is the next stage in the legal process where evidence is reviewed.

Her lawyer, deputy public defender Derek Ray Dillman, spoke on her behalf in court.

Deputy District Attorney Alexander Bott described the case as involving a deliberate shooting into occupied homes. He told the court that the conduct could have resulted in multiple homicides.

Authorities said Ortiz was arrested hours after the incident. At the time of her arrest, she was alone in her car. Prosecutors stated that she had a rifle, additional rounds of ammunition and a wig, which they allege she intended to use as a disguise.

Ortiz is currently being held on bail set at $1.8 million, which is approximately £1.35 million.

Public records show that she has been a licensed speech pathologist for more than a decade.

Rihanna is a nine-time Grammy Award winner with 14 number one hits in the United States and nine in the United Kingdom. Her songs include We Found Love, Umbrella, What’s My Name and Diamonds. She is also the founder of the make-up brand Fenty Beauty.

The case will now move to a preliminary hearing, where the court will consider the evidence before deciding whether it should proceed to trial.