Fans of Rihanna were stunned to hear that she was involved in a violent act of hatred the other day. In the afternoon hours of March 8, a female approached the home of the star. She allegedly fired between five and 10 rounds through the walls of the mansion.
Police arrived at the scene around 1:20 PM and noted that the star was, in fact, inside the home. According to the Los Angeles Times, the suspect fired multiple rounds from inside her vehicle, which was located across the street. Thankfully, no injuries were reported to have occurred. Several rounds struck the exterior of Rihanna’s home, but none made it through the walls. At least two other homes in the surrounding area were also impacted by the events and showered with bullet holes.
Los Angeles radio dispatch claimed that at least 10 shots were fired from the suspect’s vehicle. After the incident took place, the suspect’s white Tesla took off down Coldwater Canyon Drive. At the time of the event, the driver was rumored to have braids and wear a cream-colored top.
Police caught sight of the suspect’s vehicle from a helicopter and followed her to a parking lot in Sherman Oaks, California. According to NBC News, police officials swiftly pulled the suspect over and discovered seven casings and an assault rifle within the vehicle.
About the Suspect
The shooter, Ivana Ortiz, is a 35-year-old woman from Orlando, Florida. Ortiz has several prior arrests in Florida. In 2013, she was involved in a bankruptcy case, and in 2021, she was arrested on suspicion of careless driving. More recently, in 2023, on suspicion of domestic violence and battery.
She is widely known on social media for posting rapping and dancing videos, often tagging various celebrities. On February 17, Ortiz posted an alleged claiming that Rihanna acquired AIDS. She continued to include the star in her posts and later commented, “…say something to me directly instead of sneaking around like you talking to me where I’m not at.”
Though the motive of the shooting is still unclear, Ortiz’s social media presence causes some fans to believe she knew the home belonged to Rihanna and that her intentions were clearly to harm her.
Violence in the Past
In 2018, a man broke into Rihanna’s home that was located in Beverly Hills, and spent nearly 12 hours in it. The man who entered her home, Eduardo Leon, pleaded not guilty to counts of stalking. According to police, Leon jumped the fence that was surrounding the star’s house before entering it. It wasn’t until the following day that Rihanna’s assistant discovered the man inside the house.
The star also dealt with a home intruder in 2013, and multiple harassing letters sent in 2011. Multiple suspects have been caught trespassing or attempting to break into Rihanna’s various homes. The star has been reported to have filed for many restraining orders against fans who have gone rogue in the past.
Safety Risks for Celebrities
As the internet continues to evolve, fans are able to access more information about their favorite stars. As a matter of fact, if you searched up a widely known actor, you would have easy access to personal information such as their date of birth, ethnicity, family relations, and occasionally their living situations.
Not only does this create various safety issues for celebrities, but it also puts their families at risk. The internet and social media often provide too much information regarding celebrities, creating situations such as home invasions to be a common issue.
Thankfully, nobody was injured in the events that involved Rihanna and her home. Police were quickly able to get the suspect in custody, and Ortiz has been placed on bail for over one million dollars.
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