Ronni Chasen slaying: Rumors about similar crimes in area not true, records show

In the weeks since Hollywood publicist Ronni Chasen was slain in Beverly Hills, there have been rumors circulating of a series of carjackings and other violent crimes in the area.

But according to interviews and crime records, there is no evidence these crimes have actually occurred.

Through a department spokesman, Beverly Hills police described reports that their city has been hit by a string of carjackings and shootings in the area of Coldwater Canyon Avenue and Benedict Canyon Road as "demonstrably false."

They noted that they have no report of a woman who had been threatened with a gun on Benedict Canyon Road, which has been rumored. Nor do they have any record of other violent crimes carjackings or crimes with guns in the Coldwater-Benedict corridor.

Los Angeles police say they had no record of similar crimes in the area. Crime L.A., the Los Angeles Times crime database, show no such crimes there in recent months.

Rodney Kemerer, vice president of the Benedict Canyon Assn., which represents over 2,400 homes in the area, said his group has not received any calls about any specific incident of violence nor have they been made aware of an upswing in violent crime from residents or police.

"We (the BCA) are saddened and shocked by the recent Beverly Hills shooting and death, but, as far as we know, this is not part of a larger violent crime wave or trend," Kemerer said. "Apparently, this is all rumor."

The Daily Beast reported Monday on an e-mail that has been circulating among neighbors about a series of shootings and carjackings in recent months in the area of Coldwater Canyon Road and Benedict Canyon Road.

Crime in LAPD areas around Ronni Chasen slaying over last six months:

Violent crimes (2)	Property crimes (61)

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Comments

[anon]

0% homicide, yet a valet was shot and died at Guys and Dolls nightclub, in that area, less than 6 months ago. TMZ has a video of it happening. The shooter was not caught. Are these accurate figures ?

[pierceout]

Thank you for the responsible journalism and keeping things in perspective, L.A. Times. Some websites are going nuts on this case.

[BillN]

we can all rest assured that this is not random violence. NOT.
was Chasen an outspoken person? what did she advocate, who did she champion? who did she speak of?
perhaps PD ought to investigate the child peddlers in the area, they might find their suspect.

[Westside Local]

Not all crimes go reported. Police records and statistics are not gospel.

[Duchess of Hackney]

It sounds like something out of a corny re-run of Hart to Hart, Columbo or The Rockford Files . When crimes like this occur in Beverly Hills..... it's usually personal. Hopefully in time LAPD will figure it out.

[paul]

Get on with the REAL investigation. It was a pro hit. Find out what Ronni was up to. That's where the truth resides.

[jC]

Guys & Dolls is WeHo - not Beverly Hills. Didn't think the purported e-mail sounded legit anyway. 5 shots to the chest doesn't indicate road rage to me.

[kgoddess]

BHPD is VERY good at burying anything it doesn't want the media to know about. Unfortunately, they aren't going to solve this crime, no how no way.
And the shooting in front of the Guys & Dolls nightclub...is nowhere near the same area, at least 4 miles a.

[Auto-de-fe]

FOLLOW THE MONEY($)!

[Bill]

Somebody sent that rumor e-mail is linked to the murder. He wanted police to believe it's a random kill. The police should trace the source of that e-mail