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A Florida woman pleaded not guilty Wednesday to attempted murder of Rihanna.
Ivanna Lisette Ortiz, of Orlando, also pleaded not guilty through her attorney to more than a dozen other charges in Los Angeles Superior Court.
Prosecutors allege the singer, hip-hop star A$AP Rocky and their three young children were among the people attacked at their Beverly Hills home on March 8 when Ortiz, 35, arrived at the property and fired about 20 rounds from an AR-15-style rifle into an exterior wall.
Ortiz faces 10 counts of assault with an automatic weapon and three counts of shooting into a vehicle or home. He could face life in prison if convicted of all charges.
His attorney, deputy public defender Derek Ray Dillman, entered the plea on his behalf as Ortiz appeared from behind glass in the cell, wearing yellow jail clothes and his blond hair braided. He spoke only to agree to waive his right to a speedy trial, the next phase of the trial in which evidence is presented to determine whether a charge is warranted.
Bail reduction requested
His lawyer requested that his bail be reduced to $70,000 US from $1.9 million based on his ability to pay. Judge Theresa McGonigle refused the request and kept bail the same.
The prosecutor, opposing the reduction, said he was a serious danger to the community and could flee.
“This case involves a dangerous, intentional shooting at a residential property,” said Deputy District Attorney Alexander Bott. “This is the kind of behavior that could easily lead to mass murder.”
When Ortiz was arrested hours after the shooting, he was alone in his car with a gun, more guns and a wig he intended to use to disguise his face, Bott said.
Public records show Ortiz has been a licensed speech pathologist for more than a decade. McGonigle ruled on the state attorney general’s request that he be barred from practicing in California.
Neither side spoke to reporters outside the court.
An email to Dillman seeking comment was not immediately returned.
District Attorney Nathan Hochman said during Ortiz’s arraignment that Rihanna and Rocky were together in the Airstream when the shooting happened, while her mother, their children and staff were in the main house.
Three counts of shooting at Rihanna’s home, her car and a neighbor’s house, prosecutors said. The 10 assault charges were against Rihanna and her family, two employees and two people in a neighboring house.
Hochman would not say where the letters came from, discuss a motive or describe any connection between Ortiz and Rihanna, saying they are all under investigation. He also said his office was investigating social media posts by Ortiz from the days before the shooting.
A nine-time Grammy winner, Rihanna has 14 No. 1 singles. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, incl we found Love, Work, An umbrella again Disturbia. She founded the makeup brand Fenty Beauty in 2017.
She and A$AP Rocky announced the birth of their third child, a girl named Rocki Irish Mayers, in September.
