Early this morning, in Beverly Hills of all places, famed publicist Ronni Chasen was shot five times as she drove her Mercedes through town. After being shot, Ronni slammed her car into a telephone pole. When police arrived she was still alive, but died en route to the hospital. Prolific in the late 80's and early 90's, Chasen became the publicity director for MGM in 1993. She later left MGM and started her own firm where she worked until her death.
So, I wonder if this was a case of mistaken identity or something else. When is the last time you heard about anyone being shot five times while they were driving? Then, to top it off it happened in Beverly Hills which is not exactly known for its gun play filled streets.
I hope they solve this.
ReplyDeleteRIP
Wow. I doubt it was mistaken identity. Someone wanted her dead. I'd check with Mr. Chasen first, if there is one.
ReplyDeleteMs. Chasen must have pissed the wrong person off. Although a professional hit is usually done much more cleaner than that, in less public place and she wouldn't been left alive so not sure what to think.
ReplyDeleteIn any event my heart goes out to her family and may this get resolved.
It still reeks of revenge killing of some sort. I do hope they find out who did this.
ReplyDeletePoor woman. What a way to die.
I'm with KellyLynn. This sounds like revenge or something mob related.
ReplyDeleteRIP.
Bizarre.
ReplyDeleteDon't let the Quaids know about this!
ReplyDeleteScary!
OMG....To weird, that's something gangs or drug dealer do....scary.
ReplyDeleteThere's alot more to this story. I can't wait for it all to come out.
ReplyDeleteThat is horrific. I'll be interested to hear the details as they become available.
ReplyDeleteRIP
Not that strange. A friend of mine was car jacked, run over, and left for dead near the Beverly Center which is not that far from Beverly Hills.
ReplyDeleteWhat a horrible think to have happen. I'm on the "something's not right" train. Sure random crime happens but if this wasn't an attempted robbery/carjacking of some kind, something fishy and smells of a hit.
ReplyDeleteRIP
Holy Shit. We have worked with her company and know her. She was old school publicist style (aka tough broad) but really wonderful, one of those Hollywood institutions. Universally respected by all. What the hell could've happened - no question this is murder.
ReplyDeleteI was at that corner at 7pm last night. :(
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone think this could have something to do with the "You'll never spa again in this town" gay tell all about John Travola?
ReplyDelete@Hello Kitty, the Beverly Center isn't that far from Beverly Hills, but in regards to congestion, traffic and types of people they're worlds apart.
ReplyDeleteAnd this was a quiet, residential area of Beverly Hills. You don't shoot someone five times in the chest for their car and don't take it.
Not that I'm knowledgeable about hit men, but this sounds too sloppy for a professional hit. (Blue Sky, your Quaid comment made me laugh so hard I snorted ice tea through my nose!)
ReplyDelete@Chigirl, I worked with Ronni and her agency because I too used to do awards campaigning or marketing as some prefer to call it.
ReplyDeleteHer agency specialized in the music for the films, those who wrote the scores, etc, so I can't imagine how this would connect to john travolta and the guy who wrote that book.
this is horrible! I hope they catch whomever did this.
ReplyDeleteshe must've had some serious dirt on someone. *side-eye to xenu's minions*
ReplyDeleterip, ms. chasen.
Was reading up on her and looks like she did a bunch of work with women's and girl's groups. RIP.
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ReplyDeleteYeah, she had dirt on someone.
ReplyDeleteIt's such a horrifying story. May she rest in peace.
ReplyDeleteAnyone know if she is related to the Chasen family of the former famed restaurant? Seems likely.
What Robert Blake dining out somewhere, near by?
ReplyDeleteOJ did not do this one people! He's in jail!
ReplyDeleteHonestly, it sounds so sloppy, but the message is not to her, it must be to someone else. Remember, you don't get what you want, if you kill that person. You need to kill a person that someone loves!
Better start your car by remote, Enty...
ReplyDeleteI wonder what bigwig this lady pissed off.
ReplyDeleteWhen someone shoots at you 5 times, they want you dead. I doubt this was random. I hope they catch the killer. There are enough cameras around that hopefully one of them caught something. This is so tragic. :(
ReplyDeletesad sad sad sad.
ReplyDeleterest in peace.
In regards to being 'too sloppy to be a professional hit' comments, I think Hollywood movies have us jaded.
ReplyDeleteIf the person is shot 5 times and dies, it's a professional hit. Professionals aren't those slick shooters like we see in the movies, who wear sunglasses and have silencers and know karate moves.
Client dies, money paid, hired hit. End of story.
Monica is correct.
ReplyDeleteUsually, the gun is emptied, as quickly as possible and consistent with aim. Shock will kill and hitting vital parts increases the chance of killing. I am aware of admittedly rather tough individuals, who survived multiple gunshots. Google "The viper Dublin dead" for example. He had survived three previous shootings with multiple hits each time.
This was a serious hit.
Very unusual in Hollywood?
I don't know spit about any of this except the police seized her office and home files and computers. Perhaps they are thinking more "hit" than carjacking?
ReplyDeleteHow awful!
ReplyDeleteRead a few other articles on this...sounds like she was a very well revered lady. Very sad.