Detectives unsure if man who killed himself was involved in Ronni Chasen killing

Beverly Hills police said Friday they are not sure whether the man who took his own life as detectives served a search warrant was involved the the slaying of Hollywood publicist Ronni Chasen.

"At this time, it is unknown if this individual was involved in the Chasen homicide," the Police Department said in a statement.

Officials said the department had received numerous tips since Chasen was killed last month. One of the tips came from "America's Most Wanted" and involved the man, the statement said.

The man, Harold Smith, killed himself Wednesday evening, pulling a pistol from his pocket and shooting himself in the lobby of the Harvey Apartments building on Santa Monica Boulevard as detectives attempted to serve the search warrant.

Several law enforcement sources said Beverly Hills detectives privately described Smith as a suspect in the case. However, the Police Department has publicly described him only as a "person of interest."

Chasen was shot to death early Nov. 16 while driving her Mercedes-Benz near the intersection of Whittier Drive and Sunset Boulevard in Beverly Hills.

She was on her way home from a party after the premiere of the movie "Burlesque." Chasen is believed to have left the event about midnight and been traveling west on Sunset. Friends believe she planned to head south to her condominium on Wilshire Boulevard.

Several residents dialed 911 at the time of the attack, saying they heard gunshots. Moments later, another resident called police to report hearing the car crash into a light pole.

People living on Whittier Drive who heard the crash ran to the scene and found Chasen slumped over the steering wheel, bleeding.

RELATED:

Suicide of suspect in Ronni Chasen slaying caught on tape

Ronni Chasen slaying suspect worried about police, talked of gun, $10,000 windfall

Suspect in Ronni Chasen slaying had been under police surveillance

--Andrew Blankstein

Photo: The suspect's body is removed from the Harvey Apartments.

Credit: Los Angeles Times

Comments

[Aaron]

back to square one.

[Copper]

This is a job for Axle Foley...(Beverly Hills Cop theme playing)

[Zazzy]

I Do not beleive that the person of interest was involed in any way with the crime. Of course you are a person of interest when you go mouthing off in the streets that you were offered 10 grand to comit the crime. This man was described by his own neighbors as a liar for attention. Who can really say for sure but who ever commited the murder was not apart of road rage. Unfortunatly the crime sits at square one for now. Who commited this crime?

[TMAN]

NICE PIC. NOW RENTING AS A BODY BAG IS ROLLED OUT CLASSIC

[edward allen]

Good. I am happy to put this nut's distraction behind us, and now the police can move back to the crime.
It certainly looks like a professional hit to me. So what was Chasen up to that would prompt this? She was only a publicist, and not a real mover and shaker who could begin or end careers.
Are close members of her family involved in organized crime activities or gambling that could prompt her murder as a warning? She was supposed to be worth more than $6 million, so does she have any new friends (male or female) from the area's notorious lizard lounges? Interesting case.

[OneMeatball]

If Smith shot her it was a random killing or road rage in an auto vs bicycle incident. No way a semi transient, semi psycho with a big mouth and no down payment was a hired gun. But I don't even think he was the shooter. He shot himself and was previously asking if the police were looking for him because he knew he had a warrant out for him from another case and had sworn he would kill himself before he would go back to prison.

[mark shapiro]

does this mean they cant interrogate him?

[edward allen]

Now is the time to do a story on the double life of Ronnie Chasen. Start off with the fact that she took her name from a famous long-gone L.A. restaurant Chasen's and that her real name is Ronni Sue Cohen. Then explore the other half of her life -- not the publicist side, but the other side. I'll bet you will find a lot of secrets there.

[cody mccall]

Okay, a supposedly 9-mm hollow-point slug was removed from Chasen's body. The cops have the weapon 'Harold Smith' used to kill himself. Ballistics, anybody? Duh!

[Columbo]

Other articles describe dysfunctional family relationships (specifying $10 in a will is more than insulting, its vindictive) and the brother says random road rage. (a diversion!) That stretch of road, at that hour of the night is very quiet, so I don't buy the road rage theory. There is also a security video from a hair dresser's house showing here car proceeding normally,including stopping at the stop sign with no one chasing here down. I would look very close at the family; it appears they have motive going back to when the mother died and R.C received the bulk of her estate.

[stretch mar removal Los Angeles]

Thank you so much for the news. I did not know it. I have always found your blog very informative.

[mohsin mirza]

It leaves incision marks which can be minimized through qualified use of the new technologies.