Journalist Don Lemon disclosed a harrowing near-miss, revealing he planned to stay in Rihanna’s Beverly Hills neighborhood on the night of a shooting at the singer’s residence.
Don Lemon’s Close Call
Lemon, 60, shared the story at the 12th Annual Better Brothers Los Angeles Truth Awards. He explained that a friend lives close to Rihanna’s home, and he intended to visit while in Los Angeles. However, the Los Angeles Marathon disrupted transportation, forcing him to head directly to the airport.
“I’m glad that Rihanna is okay after that crazy s**t happened at her house,” Lemon stated. “Probably no one knows this, but I have a friend that lives very near Rihanna and I could have been there… And it was frightening. And the friend had like damage to her house.”
“It’s really scary,” he added. “It’s so random. And I know it’s a cliche but life is really precious and you never know, so you need to celebrate every single day.”
Details of the Shooting
The incident targeted Rihanna’s Beverly Hills property earlier this month, with the singer, her partner A$AP Rocky, their three children—sons RZA, 3, and Riot, 2, plus five-month-old daughter Rocki—and her mother present, along with two staff members. They were in an Airstream trailer on the grounds when gunfire erupted.
Suspect Ivanna Lisette Ortiz, 35, also allegedly fired at a neighboring home occupied by two individuals. No one suffered injuries, though officials note Rihanna and Rocky easily could have been struck.
Charges and Legal Proceedings
Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman announced charges against Ortiz on March 10: one count of attempted murder, ten counts of assault with a semi-automatic firearm, and three counts of shooting into an inhabited dwelling. Conviction could lead to life in prison.
Judge Theresa McGonigle set bail at $1,875,000, issued a protective order barring Ortiz from contacting Rihanna and Rocky, and required her to surrender all firearms. Arraignment is scheduled for March 26.
LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell stated the motive remains unclear, with the Robbery-Homicide Division continuing its investigation.
Suspect’s Background
Ortiz posted online content targeting Rihanna, including critical Facebook messages suggesting the singer spoke negatively about her—no connection exists between them—and videos discussing Rihanna’s death with threats. She faces prior arrests in Florida for domestic violence, careless driving, and violating pretrial release conditions.
Recent Connections
Lemon recently celebrated his 60th birthday with Rihanna, posting a selfie captioned “Birthday hijinks with my girl Rihanna,” set to her 2011 track “Birthday Cake.”
Separately, Lemon faces charges from a January protest at a St. Paul church disrupting a service against ICE operations in the Twin Cities. He has pleaded not guilty; one pastor holds a position in the local ICE field office.
