Hollywood pays respects to Ronni Chasen as police investigate publicist's slaying

On Sunday, hundreds of people attended the funeral of veteran Hollywood publicist Ronni Chasen, who was killed early Tuesday in a shooting in Beverly Hills.

The funeral took place Sunday morning at Hillside Memorial Park Cemetery.

Beverly Hills police have said they have no motive or suspects in the slaying, and the investigation is ongoing.

Chasen, 64, was found shot multiple times near the intersection of Whittier Drive and Sunset Boulevard near the border of Beverly Hills and the city of Los Angeles about 12:30 a.m. Tuesday and was pronounced dead at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center about an hour later, officials said.

Chasen had attended an after party for the premiere of the movie "Burlesque" at the W Hotel in Hollywood. She is believed to have left the event for home sometime around midnight, traveling west on Sunset Boulevard.

 Photos, from top: Mourners attend services for publicist Ronni Chasen. Actor Elliott Gould arrives at the memorial service at Hillside Memorial Park Cemetery in Fox Hills. Credit: Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times

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Comments

[AJ Buttacavoli]

This event has the same strange feeling as the Manson event.

[gary]

RIP

[Woody McBreairty]

It would be unthinkable if the murderer gets away with this. It seems to me this was a murder that came off exactly as planned. I know everyone is anxious for it to be resolved and I have some kind of fear it may never be although I hope I'm wrong. There seems to be so little progress and so few clues, unless the police are holding back onformation until they know more.

[ChickensComeHome2Roost]

What happened at the Manson event?

[Beth Siever]

A few years ago in Austin, Texas, there was a drive by shooting that did not involve robbery or carjacking. Several years later through ballistics matching the gun to a crime in Houston, the murderer was found and she confessed to this act as a random murder as part of her initiation into a gang.

[California Homeowner]

I didn't know the woman, and I'm sorry to hear of this. If this was targeted, this is indeed scary, as if a random act isn't scary enough.

On a somewhat related note, what's with that guy in the top photo wearing jeans to a funeral? How totally inappropriate.

[JOHN]

HEY, SINCE NO ONE IN THE GLITTERATI HAS APPARENTLY SAID ANYTHING TO THE MURDERER HIM/HERSELF:
-WHY DID YOU DO IT?
-WHAT DO YOU WANT?
-IS THERE ANYTHING WE CAN MAKE FAIR FROM YOUR POINT OF VIEW SO YOU DON'T DO THIS AGAIN, OR SOME OTHER PERSON STEALS YOUR POINT OF VIEW AND COPY CATS YOU?!
J.H-NEAR BOSTON MA

[mslewis]

I have a feeling the Bev. Hills police have more information than they are saying. They don't want the killer to know what they know. At least I hope they do. It would be awful if this murder goes unsolved.

[Mustardseeds]

Why is everyone afraid to take about this incident. What's with the secrecy? Someone knows something and they aren't talking.

[Squash Blossom]

Mustard, they wouldn't disclose anything before they make an arrest unless they want to smoke somebody out. As it is, the lack of info out here in the media may be to protect the integrity of the investigation. Or maybe it's to protect the guilty. We are talking about very high profile, powerful people here that she was connected to. I wonder if she was ran off the road into that pole, then shot after she crashed......and if the person/persons responsible are even still in the country. It would be a shame for her killers to go free.

[Ca Commentor]

This was a tragic event. I worked with Ronni at Filmways many years ago when she was hired to be in charge of publicity there. May she rest in peace.
To California Homeowner - I spent the first 25 years of my life in the entertainment industry. Jeans are the norm in the production side of the industry. The public only sees everyone in tuxes and tails at the award shows.

[ROXY]

I'M BEGINNING TO THINK THE SAME THING AS BETH SIEVER. THERE WAS NO RHYME OR REASON TO THE CRIME. MS. CHASEN WAS AT THE WRONG PLACE AT THE WRONG TIME---OTHER PLAYERS WITH AN AGENDA CAUGHT UP WITH HER.

[Goonie]

This wasn't a drive-by. She was ambushed. The killer fired five bullets into her chest, according to the media reports. That means she was stopped and probably looking at her killer. Other than the broken window, and the dented fender from colliding with the light pole, her car was untouched. A random shooter would not have been so meticulous. A gang initiation would have been a noisy event that people in the neighborhood would have heard because they rip out of the area once they've done the did. It seems like this killer was able to calmly walk away.

[joe]

There's a high risk that this murder can go unsolved if police were to reveal all they know. The public (and the killers) does need to know everything. This murder is very fresh so give it a few more months. Let police do they work, what's the rush?

[W.Grey]

It takes a great effort to hide the truth while still living, especially when the Sun comes up every day

[Onboard Skeptic]

I was previously convinced it was a case of road rage. But if so, it would definitely be the first instance that I'm aware of in Beverly Hills. So after reading the other post about the gang initiation rite, I'm more inclined now to think that would be the cause. The gang would deliberately target a well-to-do neighborhood for this and seeing a Mercedes which she owned then have the "wannabe" gang banger shoot at it.

[MJ]

Random thought - gang initiation? A la - hey, go kill a rich lady (or go kill anyone on the road and come back), commit a rape, rob an armored car, and then we'll vote on your membership? But then why not shoot for the head....

[Hollywood Pyschic]

I hope the police, FBI, and whomever else is working on this case study everything written here on the Times Comments pages, all of them concerning Ms. Chasen's untimely passing. It was most definitely a paid hit man.... There was probably a Mexican Life Insurance Policy on her..or with another rogue nation...riddled with crime. I do believe it was a man in her life that orchestrated all this. If not a lover or ex interest, then perhaps a less famous and successful brother...wait---

May your rest in peace, Ms. Chasen~

[Squash Blossom]

A novice gang member would be very nervous and sloppy if he killed her while "putting in work" for his set. This was carried out in a very slick manner. Nothing about it says "gang-related". The killers would be happy to send us all in that direction to keep the heat off of them. You are doing them a favor if you entertain that thought. The same goes for random. Too precise. Certainly there are people that know something, and if they talk, they are in danger. "They"shut her up. And if certain evidence has already been moved, the motive could be hidden. This is a test. Just how good and how honest are LAPD? It might be a good idea to keep an eye on Jonathan. He can't talk, though. They'd kill him, too.