Woman faces life sentence over alleged shooting at Rihanna's home with rifle

A tense courtroom scene unfolded Wednesday as a Florida woman accused in a brazen shooting near the home of global superstar Rihanna entered a not guilty plea to attempted murder and a string of other serious charges.

Ivanna Lisette Ortiz, a 35-year-old from Orlando, appeared in a Los Angeles court where her attorney also denied more than a dozen additional felony counts on her behalf. Prosecutors allege that on March 8, Ortiz pulled up outside Rihanna's Beverly Hills-area residence and unleashed roughly 20 rounds from an AR-15-style rifle into the property's high exterior walls.

At the time of the shooting, Rihanna and her partner, hip-hop star A$AP Rocky, were reportedly inside an Airstream trailer on the compound. Their three young children, along with Rihanna's mother and staff members, were in the main house--heightening fears of what could have been a deadly tragedy.

Ortiz now faces 10 counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm and three counts of shooting at an occupied dwelling or vehicle. If convicted, she could spend the rest of her life behind bars.

"This case involves a dangerous, deliberate shooting into occupied homes," prosecutors argued, describing the act as one that could have easily ended in multiple deaths.

Authorities say Ortiz was arrested just hours after the incident, allegedly found alone in her vehicle with the rifle, additional ammunition, and even a wig believed to be intended as a disguise.

Despite her attorney's attempt to reduce her bail from US$1.9 million to US$70,000, the judge refused, citing concerns that she poses a serious risk to public safety and may attempt to flee.

In a surprising twist, court records revealed Ortiz has worked for over a decade as a licensed speech pathologist. However, the court has now barred her from practicing in California as the case unfolds.

Investigators are still trying to determine a motive, as well as whether Ortiz had any connection to Rihanna. Social media activity leading up to the shooting is also under scrutiny.

- AP News

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