Update on Death Investigation at Harvey Apartments NR10564bb

December 2, 2010

Los Angeles:  On Wednesday December 1, 2010, Los Angeles Police Department Robbery Homicide Division (RHD) Detectives respond to a Hollywood apartment building to investigate the death of a man identified as a “person of interest” in the death of well known Hollywood Publicist Ronni Chasen.

At about 6 p.m. LAPD Hollywood Division officers responded to a call of "Shots Fired" at an apartment building located in the 5600 block of Santa Monica Boulevard.  When the officers arrived, a male subject had sustained a self-inflicted gunshot wound.  He was later pronounced dead at the scene.  At the time of the shooting, Beverly Hills Police Department detectives were on scene conducting a follow-up investigation.  There were no other injuries related to the incident.  The LAPD is conducting the death investigation only.  All matters relating to the Chasen homicide is still being handled entirely by the Beverly Hills Police Department.

RHD is in possession of video from inside the lobby of the Harvey apartment building, taken the night of the suicide.  Detectives have reviewed the video and are confirming that this incident is a suicide due to a self inflicted gunshot wound to the head by the victim.  The weapon used, which was a handgun, has been recovered by RHD and is pending ballistic testing.