Woman pleads innocent to attempted murder of Rihanna after shooting at star’s home ants and art news
The woman accused of attempting to murder Rihanna after the shooting at the singer’s home has pleaded innocent.
Evanna Lisette Ortiz of Orlando, Florida, is accused of shooting at the property of the singer and her hip-hop star partner in Los Angeles, A$AP Rocky. Also, his three small children and other people were at home on March 8.
Ortiz has been charged with one count of attempted murder, Rihanna, 10 counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm and three counts of shooting into an occupied vehicle or dwelling.
Through her attorney, she also pleaded not guilty to other counts in Los Angeles Superior Court.
The 35-year-old faces life in prison if found guilty on all charges. He has been jailed on $1.8m (about £1.35m) bail.
Her attorney, Deputy Public Defender Derek Ray Dillman, spoke in court as Ortiz appeared behind glass in a detention area wearing yellow prison garb and with her blonde hair in braids.
She spoke only to agree to waive her right to an expedited preliminary hearing, the next stage of the case where evidence is presented to determine whether a trial is needed.
District Attorney Nathan Hochman previously said that Rihanna and Rocky were in an Airstream trailer at the time of the shooting, while her mother, their children and staff members were in the main house.
Police said no one was injured in the incident. About 20 shots were fired at the home in LA’s Beverly Crest area.
Read more:
Watchdog investigating Andrew Tate’s handling of abuse
Model jailed for cheating men she found on dating sites
The prosecutor, Deputy District Attorney Alexander Bott, said: “This case involves dangerous, deliberate shootings into occupied homes. This is the kind of conduct that could easily result in multiple murders.”
When Ortiz was arrested a few hours later, she was alone in her car with a rifle, more rounds and a wig she intended to use for disguise, Bott said.
Public records show Ortiz has been a licensed speech pathologist for more than a decade.
Rihanna is a nine-time Grammy winner, with 14 number one hits in the US and nine in the UK, including We Found Love, Umbrella, What’s My Name? and Diamonds. She is also the founder of the makeup brand Fenty Beauty.
