Attempted Murder Case Against Woman Accused of Shooting at Rihanna’s Home Paused for Mental Competency Evaluation
The criminal case against the woman accused of opening fire outside Rihanna’s Los Angeles home has been temporarily halted after a judge determined there is now sufficient reason to question whether she is mentally competent to stand trial.
Los Angeles County Judge Shannon Cooley suspended proceedings Tuesday in the case against Ivanna Ortiz, the 35-year-old woman charged in the March shooting incident that prosecutors say placed Rihanna, A$AP Rocky, their children, and other occupants of the property in immediate danger. The ruling marks a significant reversal from just one week earlier, when the same judge declined a similar request from Ortiz’s public defender, finding there was not enough evidence at the time to justify interrupting the case.
Following a private discussion with defense counsel, the court changed course.
According to court records, Judge Cooley has now ordered a formal psychiatric evaluation to determine whether Ortiz understands the criminal proceedings against her and is capable of assisting in her own defense. The matter has been transferred to Los Angeles County’s Mental Health Court, where Ortiz is scheduled to appear on June 2. A court-appointed psychiatrist will evaluate her and submit findings to the court before the criminal case can move forward.
Ortiz has pleaded not guilty to a series of serious felony charges, including attempted murder, 10 counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm, and three counts of shooting at an inhabited dwelling.
Prosecutors allege that on March 8, Ortiz drove to Rihanna’s residence armed with an AR-15-style rifle and fired roughly 20 rounds while multiple people were inside the property. Authorities say the home was occupied at the time by Rihanna, A$AP Rocky, whose legal name is Rakim Mayers, the couple’s three young children, Rihanna’s mother, and staff members.
According to police reports, Rihanna and Mayers were inside an Airstream trailer parked outside the residence when the shooting began. Investigators say Rihanna initially heard what sounded like repeated impacts against metal before pulling back the curtains and discovering bullet holes in the windshield directly in front of where she had reportedly been standing moments earlier.
The report states that she immediately woke Mayers, warned him they were being shot at, and physically pushed him to the floor for cover before the two rushed to protect their children and others inside the home. Prosecutors have consistently described the alleged attack as deliberate and highly dangerous.
At earlier hearings, Deputy District Attorney Alexander Bott argued that the shooting was planned, pointing to evidence that Ortiz allegedly arrived with ammunition, a loaded rifle, and what prosecutors described as a disguise in the form of a wig. He characterized the incident as an intentional armed assault in a residential neighborhood that could easily have resulted in multiple deaths.
Investigators later documented extensive damage at the property, including multiple bullet impacts on gates and fencing. Witnesses reported seeing a white Tesla Model 3 with temporary plates leaving the area immediately after the shooting. Police later located the vehicle with assistance from an aerial search, leading to Ortiz’s arrest.
Prosecutors previously cited unusual and increasingly hostile social media posts allegedly directed at Rihanna in the months leading up to the shooting, including messages that appeared paranoid and threatening in tone. Ortiz had also been working as a licensed speech-language pathologist in California before her arrest, though state regulators successfully petitioned the court to suspend her ability to practice while the criminal proceedings remain active.
A finding of incompetence would not end the case, but it would significantly delay it while treatment or competency restoration measures are pursued. For now, one of the year’s most high-profile attempted murder cases remains paused while the court determines whether the defendant is legally fit to stand trial.
