A Florida woman is behind bars after allegedly driving across the country and firing multiple rounds at the home of global music superstar Rihanna, in a frightening incident that authorities say could have ended in tragedy.
According to a televised report from FOX 11 Los Angeles, police say 35-year-old Yvonne Ortiz traveled from Orlando, Florida, to Los Angeles with the intention of targeting someone inside the Beverly Crest residence shared by Rihanna and her partner, rapper A$AP Rocky.
Investigators say the situation unfolded Sunday afternoon when Ortiz allegedly opened fire on the home while sitting inside her vehicle. Authorities believe she fired between five and ten rounds from a semiautomatic rifle before fleeing the scene.
Thankfully, no one inside the residence was injured.
Police later arrested Ortiz a short time after the shooting. Authorities say an assault-style rifle was discovered inside her Tesla when she was taken into custody.
During a briefing with reporters, LAPD Police Chief Jim McDonnell said the severity of the case and the number of people potentially placed in danger contributed to the high bail set for the suspect.
Ortiz’s bail has been set at $10,225,000.
“The bail is as high as it is because of the number of victims,” McDonnell explained. “There were a total of 10 people present when that shooting occurred, and all would be considered victims.”
Authorities are now reviewing her social media activity as part of the investigation.
According to the FOX 11 report, detectives say Ortiz’s online posts reveal what they describe as an escalating fixation on Rihanna. The posts reportedly include a mix of celebrity references and religious content, including Bible passages and daily prayer journal entries, shared in videos posted online.
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In one video, Ortiz was found saying, “Listen, Rihanna, when you die, God is taking me to my future.”
Additional details about Ortiz’s online activity have also raised concerns about the nature of her claims against the singer.
According to a report from The Blaze, the suspect posted several videos in which she accused Rihanna of practicing witchcraft. In footage from her YouTube series titled “Praying Woman’s Journal,” Ortiz reportedly alleged that the artist used her music as a means to carry out witchcraft and even referred to Rihanna as “a witch.”
The Blaze noted that Ortiz appeared paranoid about Rihanna wanting to harm her, stating in a post online, “Are you there? … Say something to me directly instead of sneaking around like you talking to me where I’m not at.” She also said in another that Rihanna did “her little music thing so she can do witchcraft.”
The disturbing details surrounding this case also serve as a sobering reminder of how easily Scripture can be twisted when it is removed from its true context and authority. Throughout history, people have attempted to use the Bible to justify personal obsessions, delusions or even harmful actions—something Scripture itself warns against.
The tragedy of this situation highlights the danger of spiritual confusion and the importance of rightly understanding God’s Word. As believers are reminded in 2 Timothy 2:15, we are called to “rightly divide the word of truth,” ensuring that Scripture is handled with humility, wisdom and a genuine pursuit of Christ rather than being manipulated to fuel fear, anger or unhealthy spiritual obsession.
Abby Trivett is a writer and editor for Charisma Media and has a passion for sharing the gospel through the written word. She holds two degrees from Regent University, a B.A. in Communication with a concentration in Journalism and a Master of Arts in Journalism. She is the author of the upcoming book, The Power of Suddenly: Discover How God Can Change Everything in a Moment. For interviews and media inquiries, please contact [email protected].
