Hollywood publicist slaying investigation closed

[July 16, 2011]  LOS ANGELES (AP) -- A police investigation into the slaying of Hollywood publicist Ronni Chasen has been officially closed without finding any evidence that the gunman who later killed himself at a Hollywood apartment building had any accomplices, authorities said Friday.

The Beverly Hills Police Department said detectives conducted an exhaustive investigation after the shooting in November that occurred as Chasen, 64, drove home at night in her Mercedes Benz.

Authorities reviewed financial documents, 150,000 emails and texts, as well as following numerous tips.

Police assigned to the case worked more than 10,000 hours to examine every "tip, theory and legitimate lead in order to bring this investigation to conclusion," a police statement said.

Police said they are confident that ex-convict Harold Martin Smith acted alone in gunning down Chasen hours after she attended the premiere of the movie "Burlesque."

The 43-year-old career criminal killed himself on Dec. 1 when police arrived at the apartment building to question him about the Nov. 16 shooting of Chasen.

The gun used to kill Chasen was the same weapon Smith used to commit suicide, authorities said.

Police believe Smith killed the publicist as part of a robbery attempt when he stopped her car at an intersection. He apparently did not take anything and fled on a bicycle before anyone could see him in the early morning darkness.

Authorities said they reviewed security videos taken from homes along the route Chasen took that night.

Police said after the shooting that they were looking into the possibility Chasen was targeted by a hit man. Some of Chasen's friends had trouble accepting that Smith acted alone, noting his neighbors had said he boasted of killing the wealthy publicist for $10,000 -- money he had not received.

Detectives recently met with Chasen's family members, who indicated they were satisfied with the investigation, police said.

Police "sincerely hope that the conclusion of this investigation will enable the family to bring closure to a most difficult chapter in their lives," the statement read.

[Associated Press; By GREG RISLING]

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