Woman Accused of Shooting at Rihanna’s Home Rejects Lawyer’s Push for Competency Evaluation
The woman accused of opening fire outside Rihanna’s Los Angeles-area home is pushing back against her own legal team, telling a judge she wants her criminal case to move forward despite her public defender’s attempt to pause proceedings for a mental competency evaluation.
Ivanna Ortiz, 35, appeared in court on Wednesday and directly opposed her attorney’s request to suspend the case, insisting she wanted a probable cause hearing scheduled as soon as possible. Her lawyer had raised concerns about whether she was mentally competent to assist in her own defense, but Los Angeles County Judge Shannon Cooley ruled there was not enough objective evidence to force an evaluation against Ortiz’s wishes.
The judge made clear that concerns from defense counsel alone are not enough to trigger a competency hearing, particularly without medical evidence or clear courtroom behavior suggesting legal incompetence. While Cooley acknowledged communication breakdowns between Ortiz and her attorney, she said a defendant refusing to cooperate does not automatically meet the legal threshold required to halt a criminal case. She did, however, indicate a willingness to help the defense obtain relevant jail records if needed.
Ortiz has pleaded not guilty to a lengthy list 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, she drove to Rihanna’s home and fired approximately 20 rounds from an AR-15-style rifle while multiple people were inside the property, including Rihanna, her partner A$AP Rocky, their three young children, and Rihanna’s mother.
According to police reports, the incident unfolded while Rihanna and A$AP Rocky, whose legal name is Rakim Mayers, were inside an Airstream trailer parked outside the home. Rihanna reportedly heard loud metallic impacts, opened the curtains, and discovered bullet holes in the windshield directly in front of where she had been standing moments earlier. Investigators say she immediately woke Rocky, warned him they were under attack, and both dropped to the floor before rushing to secure their children and staff inside the property.
Prosecutors have described the shooting as deliberate and potentially catastrophic. At a prior hearing, Deputy District Attorney Alexander Bott argued that Ortiz arrived prepared, allegedly carrying a loaded rifle, ammunition, and a wig that prosecutors believe was intended as a disguise. He characterized the shooting as calculated behavior that could easily have resulted in multiple deaths in a residential neighborhood.
Police say witnesses saw a white Tesla Model 3 with temporary paper plates fleeing the scene shortly after the shooting. A police helicopter reportedly tracked the vehicle, leading to Ortiz’s arrest. Investigators later documented multiple bullet strikes across the property, including damage to entry gates, fencing, and other structures.
The case has drawn additional attention because of Ortiz’s alleged online behavior before the incident. Prosecutors referenced a series of social media posts in which she reportedly tagged Rihanna directly and made increasingly erratic statements, including messages suggesting paranoia and hostility toward the singer.
Ortiz previously worked as a licensed speech-language pathologist in California, but that professional status has already been impacted by the case. State regulators successfully obtained a court order barring her from practicing while the criminal proceedings remain active, including through any sentencing or appeals process. Her professional license remains technically active until 2027, according to court filings.
During Wednesday’s hearing, Ortiz remained mostly quiet, speaking only when addressed directly by the judge. When asked whether she still wanted to move ahead without waiving time, she confirmed that she did. As she was escorted back into custody, she reportedly turned and smiled toward the courtroom gallery.
Her next court hearing is scheduled for May 19, though her attorney is expected to seek a delay due to the volume of evidence in the case.
