Woman pleads not guilty to attempted murder of Rihanna
The woman accused of shooting at the home of Rihanna has pleaded not guilty to attempted murder.
35-year-old Ivanna Ortiz was arrested on March 8th following an incident at the couple’s Los Angeles property, which involved gunfire.
According to Sky News, Ortiz entered a not guilty plea at the Los Angeles Superior Court on March 25th.
The woman is facing one count of attempted murder, 10 felony counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm, and three felony counts of shooting at an inhabited dwelling or camper.
Rihanna and her partner, A$AP Rocky, along with their three children, RZA, Riot, and Rocki, were home at the time.
Police said that around 20 shots were fired at the house, but there were no injuries. District Attorney Nathan Hochman said Rocky and Rihanna were in an Airstream trailer when the shooting took place.
The singer’s mother, their children, and staff members were in the main house. If convicted, Ortiz faces life in prison, with her bail currently set at $1.8 million.
Deputy District Attorney Alexander Bott said, “This case involves a dangerous, deliberate shooting into occupied homes. This is the kind of conduct that could easily have resulted in multiple homicides.”
Ortiz appeared in court wearing yellow prison clothes with her blonde hair in braids, speaking only to agree to waive her right to a speedy preliminary hearing.
Following the shooting, LA County District Attorney Nathan J Hochman said, “Opening fire in any populated neighbourhood is extremely dangerous, puts lives at risk and will be fully prosecuted. Thankfully, no one was injured in this shooting, but this careless violence will not be tolerated in our community. Such shooters will find their next destination to be our jails and prisons.”