Cops: Ex-con alone killed Hollywood publicist

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. - A transient ex-convict riding around Beverly Hills on a bicycle killed a Hollywood publicist as she drove home from a movie premiere in what police said yesterday was a robbery gone bad.

The disclosure marked a major break in the investigation that has baffled detectives for nearly a month and stunned Hollywood after Ronni Chasen was gunned down in November.

It came a week after suspected gunman Harold Martin Smith killed himself in the lobby of a seedy apartment building as investigators acting on a tip closed in on him.

Beverly Hills Police Chief David Snowden said the gun used by Smith to commit suicide appears to have been used to kill Chasen.

"We believe that Mr. Smith acted alone. We don't believe it was a professional hit," he said.

Chasen was shot multiple times in the chest Nov. 20 as she drove home after the premiere of the movie "Burlesque." Sgt. Mike Publicker said investigators believe Smith, riding a bicycle, tried to rob Chasen as she waited to turn left from Sunset Boulevard.

"This was a random act of violence; with Mr. Smith's background, we believe that it was most likely a robbery gone bad at this time," he said.

"Through the interviews and the information we received, that leads us to believe that he was at a desperate point in his life, and was reaching out and doing desperate measures," Publicker added.

Police emphasized their investigation was continuing.

Chasen, 64, was an influential behind-the-scenes player with a long track record in promoting films such as "Driving Miss Daisy," "On Golden Pond" and the sequel to "Wall Street" and their stars for Oscars.

Detectives were led to Smith by an anonymous tip to "America's Most Wanted" by a person who might be eligible for a $125,000 reward.

Smith, 43, had a rap sheet dating back at least 25 years and had been described by police as a "person of interest" after bragging to acquaintances that he killed Chasen. Documents obtained by The Associated Press revealed he was a two-strike felon who had been convicted twice of burglary.

Speculation about the motive for the killing of Chasen initially had included road rage, a professional hit or gang-initiation killing.