The woman arrested after shots were fired outside Rihanna’s Los Angeles home had posted several disturbing messages on social media in the weeks leading up to the incident, according to reports.
Authorities have identified the suspect as Ivana Lisette Ortiz, a 35-year-old woman from Florida. Police say she has been charged with attempted murder in connection with the shooting and is currently being held on bail set at $10,225,000.
As investigators work to determine a possible motive, a number of social media videos and text posts believed to be linked to Ortiz have begun circulating online. In several of the posts, the woman appeared to reference Rihanna directly while speaking about what she described as harassment and negative energy being directed toward her.
In one widely shared video, the woman can be seen speaking emotionally about spiritual forces and claiming that someone was trying to attack her with what she described as harmful energy. During the same rant, she made insulting comments about Rihanna’s appearance and suggested that what she called “God’s judgment” would come against the singer.
The video also included unusual references to a company. In the clip, the woman claimed she had purchased stock in a company and suggested that doing so would somehow prevent negative energy she believed she was experiencing when visiting the store.
Other posts circulating online show the woman making additional references to Rihanna while discussing spiritual or supernatural themes. In one video, she appeared to be sitting outdoors when she began talking about ants she described as being connected to Satan. During that same clip, she again mentioned Rihanna while speaking about people trying to destroy “something beautiful.”
Several text posts also surfaced in which the woman directly tagged Rihanna’s social media handle and used insulting language toward the singer. In another message, she mentioned both Rihanna and Kim Kardashian, writing hostile remarks directed at the celebrities.
Authorities have not confirmed whether the social media activity is directly connected to the motive behind the shooting. The incident itself occurred on Sunday outside Rihanna’s home in the Beverly Glen neighbourhood of Los Angeles. According to the Los Angeles Police Department, officers responded after reports that multiple gunshots had been fired toward the property.
Investigators say the shots were allegedly fired from a vehicle parked across the street from the singer’s residence. Rihanna was reportedly inside the home at the time of the shooting, but no one was injured. Police said several bullets struck the exterior of the mansion and a vehicle parked outside the home. Authorities also reported that at least two other houses on the same block were hit by gunfire during the incident.
Sources familiar with the investigation said the weapon believed to have been used was an AR-style rifle. Ortiz was arrested shortly after the shooting and later booked on suspicion of attempted murder.
Rihanna, who shares the home with rapper A$AP Rocky, has not publicly commented on the situation. The investigation remains ongoing.