Police: Ronni Chasen killing was 'a random act of violence'

The investigation into Hollywood publicist Ronni Chasen's murder remains open, but police now say they believe she was killed in a robbery attempt.

At a news conference Wednesday (Dec. 8), Beverly Hills police said the gun used to kill Chasen was the same one Harold Martin Smith, a "person of interest" in the case, used to kill himself last week.

"We believe Mr. Smith acted alone; we don't believe this was a professional hit," Beverly Hills Police Chief David Snowden said at the news conference. Sgt. Mike Publicker added that investigators believe Chasen's killing was "a random act of violence; we believe it was most likely a robbery gone bad."

Preliminary ballistics reports show that the gun used to kill Chasen and the gun Smith shot himself with are the same weapon. The investigation is still "open and active," Snowden says.

Chasen was killed Nov. 16 in Beverly Hills after attending the "Burlesque" premiere in Hollywood. Residents who called 911 reported hearing shots; Chasen was found at the wheel of her Mercedes, bleeding from several gunshot wounds. She died soon after.