Don Lemon Reveals 'Frightening' Near-Miss at Rihanna Shooting — Says He 'Could've Been There'
He narrowly avoided being in the neighborhood as gunfire erupted — with a suspect now facing multiple felony charges.
Don Lemon is opening up about a chilling close call – one that could have placed him just yards from a shooting at Rihanna’s Los Angeles home.
The former CNN anchor revealed he had planned to visit a friend who lives near the singer’s Beverly Hills property on the very day gunfire erupted outside the residence.
“I could’ve been there,” Lemon said, describing the moment as “frightening” and “really scary.”
Instead, a twist of timing kept him away.
According to Lemon, he and his team had intended to stay with the friend, but were forced to change plans when they couldn’t secure transport due to the Los Angeles Marathon.
“We were going to go visit her, but we couldn’t get a car,” he said. “And we went to the airport early.”
That logistical hiccup may have spared him from being in the immediate vicinity when shots were fired.
The incident itself unfolded in broad daylight earlier this month, when multiple rounds were fired toward Rihanna’s gated property in the Beverly Crest area.
Police say the shooting occurred around 1:20 p.m., with gunfire directed toward the entrance of the home.
Inside at the time were Rihanna, A$AP Rocky, their three children, and the singer’s mother – none of whom were injured.
Authorities quickly moved in, taking a suspect into custody.
Court records identify the alleged shooter as Ivanna Lisette Ortiz, a 35-year-old woman from Florida. She now faces a sweeping list of felony charges, including attempted murder and multiple counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm.
Investigators allege she fired between seven and nine rounds from an AR-15-style rifle, with at least two neighboring homes also struck by gunfire.
For Lemon, the proximity of the violence hit hard – particularly after learning his friend’s home was damaged in the incident.
“I remember the friend actually had damage to her house,” he said. “So, it’s frightening.”
He added that the experience served as a stark reminder of how quickly ordinary plans can turn into something far more serious.
“Life is really precious, and you never know,” Lemon said. “So you need to celebrate every day.”
He also expressed relief that Rihanna and her family were unharmed.
And in a moment defined by near-misses and what-ifs, that may be the only part of the story everyone agrees on.