One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Beverly Hills Police Declare Ronni Chasen Murder Solved
Ronni Chasen (AP Photo/Chasen and Company)
The Beverly Hills Police Department reported late yesterday that the murder of Hollywood publicist Ronni Chasen has been solved, says the Hollywood Reporter, and the killer was Harold Martin Smith, the man who committed suicide in front of the police using the same gun he used to kill Chasen.Smith "acted alone" in the November 16th murder of Ronni Chasen, and, emphasizes BHPD Chief David Snowden, there was "no conspiracy." Adds Snowden: “I know a lot of people don’t like to see it end like that -- they’d rather have something more dramatic, but that’s just the way it is. The facts are the facts.”
All of the evidence has been reviewed, and the detectives have confirmed that Chasen was shot by Smith in an attempted robbery. Smith "used a bicycle to get to and from the scene of the crime," believe the authorities. Snowden says the case will be formally closed in the next few days, and that at that time, the BHPD will issue a press release.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
