Judge Denies Hearing for Rihanna House Shooter

A Los Angeles County Superior Court judge on Wednesday refused to pause the criminal case against Ivanna Lisette Ortiz, the Florida woman accused of firing at Rihanna’s Beverly Crest home in March. Judge Shannon K. Cooley said after a closed hearing that there was “not substantial evidence of incompetence,” according to ABC7 and other local reports. The ruling rejected a request raised by Ortiz’s court-appointed lawyer and kept the prosecution on its normal track. A May 19 court date is now set to schedule a probable-cause hearing. ### Who is the defendant, and what did the judge decide? Ivanna Lisette Ortiz, 35, is charged with attempted murder and multiple firearms offenses tied to the March 8 shooting outside Rihanna’s Los Angeles property. Cooley declined to send Ortiz into competency proceedings, despite Deputy Public Defender Derek Dillman telling the court he was “expressing a doubt” about his client’s mental competence. (abc7.com) The judge’s finding matters procedurally because a competency suspension would have halted the criminal case while Ortiz underwent further evaluation. Instead, the case remains active in Los Angeles Superior Court. ### What are prosecutors accusing Ortiz of doing at Rihanna’s home? March 8 is the date prosecutors say Ortiz drove to the Beverly Crest neighborhood and opened fire with a semiautomatic or assault-style rifle at Rihanna’s residence and a nearby home. (abc7.com) The criminal complaint, as described by ABC7, lists one count of attempted murder, 10 counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm, two counts of shooting at an inhabited dwelling and one count of shooting at an inhabited vehicle. Deputy District Attorney Alexander Bott said at an earlier March 25 hearing that Ortiz fired about 20 rounds and aimed toward an area where adults and children were present. Prosecutors have said no one was injured. ### Who was at the house when the shooting happened? Rihanna, whose legal name is Robyn Fenty, was home when the shots were fired, according to prosecutors and police accounts cited by local media. (abc7.com) Prosecutors have also said her partner Rakim “A$AP Rocky” Mayers, their three children, Rihanna’s mother and two staff members were at the property. A neighboring home with two people inside was also struck, according to prosecutors. Los Angeles police documents cited by ABC7 said investigators found bullet holes or impacts on the exterior gate, a fence, an Airstream trailer, a patio area and the exterior wall of a nursery room. The same report said damage was also found at a neighboring residence. ### How was Ortiz arrested, and what else have courts done in the case? (abc7.com) Sherman Oaks Galleria is where police arrested Ortiz after following a white Tesla seen leaving the area, according to police accounts cited by ABC7 and Fox 11. Investigators said they recovered a rifle from the vehicle, along with ammunition and what prosecutors later described as a disguise — a wig. (abc7.com) March 25 was also the date Ortiz pleaded not guilty to the charges. At that hearing, a judge denied a defense request to reduce her bail, which now stands at $1.875 million after initially being set at $10 million, according to ABC7. A protective order bars Ortiz from contacting Rihanna or A$AP Rocky and requires her to stay away from the couple, their property, nearby residents and associated work addresses, Fox 11 reported. (abc7.com) ### What do investigators say about motive? Los Angeles Police Department Chief Jim McDonnell said in March that investigators had not established a motive and were reviewing social media posts attributed to Ortiz. ABC7 reported this week that investigators are still examining her online presence, including a video in which she referred to Rihanna. (abc7.com) Nathan Hochman, the Los Angeles County district attorney, said in March that Ortiz could face life in state prison if convicted on all counts. The next scheduled step is a May 19 hearing, when Cooley is expected to set a date for a probable-cause proceeding to determine whether the case will go to trial. (foxla.com) (abc7.com)