Police Confirm Smith's Suicide Weapon Was Used in Chasen Murder, Call Her Death 'a robbery gone wrong'
Ronni Chasen (AP Photo/Chasen and Company)
BHPD's Chief David Snowden detailed the chain of events that led to their arrival at the Harvey Apartments in Hollywood to speak with Smith, and the subsequent handling of the ballistic evidence between that crime, which took place in the LAPD's jurisdiction.
Following Smith's suicide, the ballistic evidence was analyzed by the Los Angeles Sheriff's firearms lab, who only today made the still-preliminary determination that the same gun was used in the Chasen shooting and Smith's suicide. Snowden added that a "complete analysis and review [of the ballistics] is expected in the next two weeks."
When questioned regarding previously reported information about the guns not matching, Snowden remarked that such reporting is what happens when "quasi experts" make media appearances and "draw conclusions based on erroneous information." The BHPD say that all such previous reports were false.
The BHPD believe that Smith acted alone in the murder of Chasen, and that they are operating on the theory that the murder was "a robbery gone wrong." The authorities say that the case is an open and ongoing investigation, however, and they are about 60 to 70 percent done with their case. They emphasize that Smith was not a paid hit man,