All tag results for 'ronni chasen'

Even months later, this still seems like such an unnecessary and tragic crime.

El Lay authorities have officially shut down their investigation of murdered publicist Ronni Chasen, and after going through over 150,000 pieces of evidence, have determined that she lost her life when the gunman, Harold Martin Smith, attempted to rob her in her car.

Despite rumors that she had been the target of a professional hit, new details suggest that the gun used in the murder had been stolen from a police officer during a previous robbery in the valley.

Regardless of what actually went down, we can't imagine this is easy for her family and loved ones to accept, and our thoughts are with them as they try to cope with this devastating loss.

May Ronni R.I.P.

[Image via Getty Images.]

Tags: burglary, harold martin smith, loss, murder, r.i.p., ronni chasen, sad, shooting

Looks like they can finally close the book on this one.

The LAPD are closing Hollywood publicist Ronni Chasen's murder case, now that the final ballistics reports have come in and CONFIRMED that the gun used in Chasen's murder was the same gun that suspect Harold Martin Smith used to kill himself.

According to Beverly Hills police chief David Snowden, the investigation will be formally closed next week.

At this point, investigators believe that Smith was the murderer, and chief Snowden says they have "no additional evidence to review in the case."

Guess this one has been solved…it'd be pretty difficult to argue with the results from those ballistics reports.

Any more thoughts on this case as it comes to a close?

[Image via Getty Images.]

Tags: ballistics report, beverly hills, david snowden, evidence, gun, harold martin smith, hollywood publicist, investigation, murder case, police, ronni chasen

Seems like everything we think we know about this case completely changes from day to day!

Yesterday, police were saying that Hollywood publicist Ronni Chasen's murder was a random act of violence, but now criminologists are saying that the killing seems like a professional hit to them.

Here's what former California prosecutor Robin Sax had to say about the case:

"It just doesn't seem believable. Chasen had three perfect shots to the chest, which sounds like the work of a professional. The notion of Smith coming into $10,000 didn't just come from nowhere, and the fact that the bullet cases weren't found indicates that this person knew what they were doing and it was hardly random."

Here's what L.A. criminal defense attorney Angelyn Gates had to say about the situation:

"In theory, there could be, and should be, residue on the bicycle, which would be a huge indicator. Unless he was smart enough to think his bike has residue on it and he took a scrub brush and washed it down, they should be able to find some residue on the bike."

And more from Gates:

"I don't know why in the initial reports they were saying it couldn't be someone from the streets or the sidewalk because now they're saying completely the opposite. [Smith on a bike] doesn't make a lot of sense because nobody from the original reports said anything about a guy on a bike and it's hard to get away on a bike fast."

Guess we'll see what revelations come up next! At least they're getting CLOSER to figuring it out.

Thoughts????

[Image via Getty Images.]

Tags: angelyn gates, california, harold smith, hollywood publicist, professional hit, random, robin sax, ronni chasen, violence

So sad.

It seems that the brutal murder of well known publicist Ronni Chasen was a robbery gone bad. Many believed it was someone she knew, but that is not the case.

The Beverly Hills Police have completed 70 percent of their investigation and discovered that the gun used in Chasen's murder was the same one that Harold Smith used to kill himself last week.

Authorities received a tip through America's Most Wanted as Smith bragged to neighbors that he shot Chasen for $10,000 while he was on his bicycle.

BHPD don't believe that Smith was working for anyone else, nor did he get paid. The only think he collected was money from a lawsuit.

[Image via Getty Images.]

Tags: americas most wanted, beverly hills police department, harold smith, investigation, ronni chasen

Earlier in the week, we heard that the gun belonging to Harold Smith, a suspect who committed suicide, did not match the gun wounds found on Ronni Chasen's body.

Now, according to ballistics tests on Smith's weapons, it appears that there IS a match to the bullets recovered from Chasen's body.

It's looking like Harold Smith may be the murderer, but nothing has been confirmed at this time.

What do U think about this new information?

[Image via Getty Images.]

Tags: bullets, death, gun wounds, harold smith, hollywood publicist, murder, murderer, ronni chasen, suicide, suspect, weapons

Looks like some new information has come to light that COULD help out with the strange, sad case surrounding the death of Hollywood publicist Ronni Chasen.

According to an email sent to The Daily Beast, a gunman threatened another woman only a few days before Ronni Chasen's murder, in the same neighborhood and under similar circumstances.

Here's what the email had to say:

“Hi ladies, something that I wanted to warn you about in our hood…Over the weekend, a neighbor told me that last week she was driving down Benedict Cyn and an African American guy with a shirt tied on his head—gang garb—was driving crazy behind her, cutting off drivers, then pulled up next to her at the Tower [Road] stop light and, with window rolled down, smiled at her while he pointed a gun at her. She ignored him and drove on. When they reached the Will Rogers Park, just after Sunset, he did a u-turn at high speed into oncoming traffic.

Not only that, but then ten days after Chasen's murder, another man was nearly killed during a murder attempt, which was nearly identical to the circumstances surrounding the Ronni Chasen's death.

My neighbor wanted me to know this because her friend had told her that there has been a string of shootings and car jackings happening within the last 2 months in the vicinity between Coldwater and Benedict.”

This is scary! We really hope investigators are able to figure this one out sooner than later.

Do U have any thoughts? Do U think any of this new information will prove useful?

Tags: clue, death, hollywood publicist, investigators, murder, ronni chasen, strange, the daily beast

Clues in the murder case of Hollywood publicist, Ronni Chasen are not matching up, according to Beverly Hills investigators.

New reports are coming out that Harold Smith, the man linked to her murder, was most likely not the gunman as the gun he used to commit suicide does not match the gun wounds found on Chasen's body.

Several clues pointed to Smith as he allegedly "bragged" about getting paid $10,000 to kill Chasen and police acted on a tip they received from America's Most Wanted.

Beverly Hills Police Department spokesman Lt. Tony Lee now says that there is a possibility that Smith had no ties to the publicist, adding, "At this time, it is unknown if this individual was involved in the Chasen homicide."

Crazy.

Tags: beverly hills police department, gun, harold smith, murder, ronni chasen