Rihanna Shooting Suspect Found Competent to Stand Trial as Criminal Case Resumes

The woman accused of firing about 20 rounds from an AR-15-style rifle at Rihanna’s Los Angeles home has been found mentally competent to stand trial, restarting a criminal case that had been suspended for psychiatric evaluations.

Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Maria Cavalluzzi reinstated proceedings against Ivanna Ortiz on September 29, 2026, after reviewing a psychiatric report submitted six days earlier. Prosecutors and Ortiz’s defense did not contest its conclusions.

“Based on the evidence, the court finds the defendant is presently competent to stand trial,” Cavalluzzi said.

Competency requires a defendant to understand the criminal proceedings and be able to assist in her defense. The finding does not address Ortiz’s mental state at the time of the alleged shooting or determine whether she is guilty of the charges.

Ortiz, 36, pleaded not guilty in March to attempted murder and more than a dozen other felony charges stemming from the March 8 shooting. She faces up to life in prison if convicted as charged.

Prosecutors allege Ortiz drove to Rihanna’s Beverly Crest property and fired about 20 rounds toward the home and a neighboring residence while the singer, A$AP Rocky, their three young children, and others were on the property.

Bullets struck an Airstream trailer where Rihanna and Rocky were located and the exterior wall of a nursery where the couple’s children were with their nanny, according to investigators. No one was injured.

Police arrested Ortiz shortly after the shooting after a helicopter located a white Tesla allegedly seen leaving the area.

Ortiz faces one count of attempted murder, 10 counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm, two counts of shooting at an inhabited dwelling and one count of shooting at an inhabited vehicle.

Investigators have also examined social media posts Ortiz allegedly directed at Rihanna before the shooting. Authorities have not publicly identified a motive or described any known connection between the two women.

Proceedings were later suspended while Ortiz underwent psychiatric evaluations to determine whether she was competent to continue through the criminal case. Details of those evaluations have been sealed.

At Tuesday’s hearing, Deputy District Attorney Alexander Bott asked that the case next be sent to the supervising judge of criminal operations rather than directly back to the courtroom that handles felony probable-cause hearings. Bott did not publicly explain the reason for the request.

Ortiz was ordered to return to court Wednesday as the prosecution resumes.