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

Detectives investigating the slaying of publicist Ronni Chasen began to focus several days ago on a Hollywood man, who killed himself Wednesday night when police went to serve a search warrant at his apartment.

Law-enforcement sources said the man, known to neighbors as Harold, had been under police surveillance for some period of time and that Beverly Hills detectives had planned to talk to him, but he took his own life.

One neighbor told The Times the man had been evicted from the apartment but returned several times to ask whether police had been looking for him.

Resident Brandon Harrison said Harold described himself to other tenants as an ex-convict who served two stints in state prison, the most recent for firearms and drug convictions. Harold vowed that he would never go back to prison, according to Harrison.

"He told me several times, 'If it ever came back down to me going to prison, I would die first,' " Harrison said.

He said Harold told him that he was supposed to be getting $10,000, at one point saying it was for a job he did and on another occasion saying it was from a lawsuit.

Another neighbor, Terri Gilpin, told KTLA News the man bragged about having a gun and threatened to use it. "He would talk crazy stuff. He kept always bragging about having a gun," Gilpin said.

Sources, who spoke on the condition that they not be named, said that although the man is considered a suspect in Chasen's slaying last month, the investigation remains active. It's unclear whether they believe the man shot Chasen or was an accomplice.

The shooting occurred about 6 p.m. at the Harvey Apartments on Santa Monica Boulevard.

When police officers approached the man in the lobby of the apartment building, he backed up and refused their orders to raise his hands. He pulled out a pistol and shot himself in the head, the sources said. He died at the scene.

Ronni Chasen's slaying shocked Hollywood and sparked endless speculation.

The publicist 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 near the grounds of the Los Angeles Country Club.

Several residents dialed 911 at the time of the attack, saying they heard gunshots. Moments later, another resident called 911 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. The passenger-side window was shattered.

RELATED:

Suspect in Ronni Chasen slaying had been under police surveillance

Ronnie Chasen slaying suspect takes own life

Homicide Report: Share a thought or memory about Chasen

-- Andrew Blankstein and Abby Sewell

Photo: A body is removed from the Hollywood hotel where a suspect in the slaying of publicist Ronni Chasen shot himself to death as police ordered him to surrender on Dec. 1, 2010. Credit: Jay Clendenin / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[waskoma]

Taxpayer savings....

[van ness remsen]

the cops gunned down some local loser, now they can close the case and get back to eating doughnuts.

[Polomoche]

Chasen's murder looking less and less like 'road rage' or random violence.

[Tom B.]

It was a dark and stormy night and the plot thickens...

[re-MARK-able]

WHAT DID RONNI KNOW?

[mountainflora]

Most likely guilty of pulling the trigger but who hired him for $10K?

[edward allen]

So if he was involved in her shooting, what is the motive? I find this story very confusing. What is the connection beween Chasen and this man? He sounds like he's troubled, but other than that there is no link to the Chasen case that is presented for your readers in this story.

[Jim Kendall]

WHO was the movieland mogul most-riled by Ronni Chasen's professional conduct? THAT will be who contracted the hit. Or perhaps it was a publicist competitor.

[LilySweet]

This isn't a novel Edward Allen, it is a news story. The reporter can't just make stuff up so as not to "confuse" some readers. If Harold was a hired gun there would be no connection, no motive, that's the point. Good grief.

[Joseph Phillips]

One less violent felon to worry about. If only the rest would do the same.

[REALbarbwire7]

There is never a good enough answer to the quesion, "why?" How could one person simply take another's life? So sad.

[Woody McBreairty]

Makes it even more angering and shameful if a low life criminal took the life of this innocent woman. I suppose he was hired to to this so it likely remains that the person or people behind Ronni's slaying remain to be found and exposed. I only hope the police continue their unbelievably good work and the whole story is revealed and all involved are brought to justice, if there can indeed be any justice in such a horrendous death of a good, well liked & hard working & decent person.

[john the D]

mebbe Randy Quaid is right " star wackers " looks like someone paid this guy
or at least promised him $ 10,000.00

[bobbygee]

hey van ness I believe the story says he killed himself. i suppose with that ignorant statement you made you must think the cops shot him and planted the gun..

[sjh]

I bet you he had nothing to do with Chasen's murder. The police were suspicious of him only because people called in and reported that he braggaed about having a gun, spending some time in prison, and a large amount of money coming to him. Just intution!

[Dorothy]

Very suspenseful, to bad it's not just a book we're reading rather then a real life murder, so shocking and recent. I'm sure all writers have their pens in hand, taking down every detail and enhancing on it to write a great new book.

The detectives had their reasons for suspecting this guy somehow he was pinpointed to the Chasen case. There are so many aspects to her life that weren't known by those supposedly close to her. I have faith that the detectives.

[Dave T]

The question is why are gun laws so lax that a convict can go out there and buy one? The NRA and their sheep share responsibility for this demented man .

I see no c0nnection here as a professional hit man would not be bragging to neighbors about his gigs.

[m2317]

He mentioned a lawsuit, was Ronnie going to testify against someone?

[Curtis]

Come on people. That was a hit. Pure and simple. And now, they will never know who hired this gunman.

[AJ]

Is there really a need for this article or any article for that matter to mention the make of the car?

[me.yahoo.com/a/U2ryJ7sxi_iz8S427GCLANTfx.s0]

Gee, if I wanted to hire a hit man for 10k, I would certainly be getting my money's worth if I could plan on the guy killing himself before the cops close in. How perfect is that? I am fascinated to see where this elephant heads to next.

[Freddie]

This was a hit. Who hired this guy? Russian mob? Did they invest in a bad movie she promoted like Gigli?

[Aaron]

this case is far from over. Who paid for the hit? now that the suspect is dead, that puts a wrench in the investigation gears... This would be a great movie!

[gr4]

Here is in the face of all the stupid and moron activists "If it ever came back down to me going to prison, I would die first,' " and yet he choose to use guns, and criminal activities. Is that the best ticket to go back to the prison?

CRIMINALS CANNOT BE REHAB!!!! PERIOD.

[Brinoto]

What I find fascinating is that the suspect "refused their [police] orders to raise his hands. He pulled out a pistol and shot himself in the head." Wouldn't the two steps mentioned: (1) refusing police orders, and (2) pulling out a pistol, normally warrant the police to immediately shoot the suspect in self defense BEFORE the suspect could shoot himself in the head? There is, perhaps a remote possibility that the police wanted this clown silenced.