Nobody has been able to advance the story much on this morning's killing of Hollywood publicist Ronni Chasen, shot to death in her car near Sunset Boulevard and Whittier Drive in Beverly Hills. She was driving home to Westwood from a party at the W Hotel in Hollywood, after attending the "Burlesque" premiere. “It is an extremely unusual crime for us,” said Sgt. Lincoln Hoshino of the Beverly Hills Police Department. “We are in the infancy stages of the investigation.” Neighbors heard the shots and ran to help Chasen, who was shot five times but alive. She was declared dead an hour later at Cedars-Sinai. Six minutes before the shooting, she left a routine "to do" message on the office phone. Police spent the day gathering up computers and other possible evidence from her apartment and the offices of Chasen and Company, talking to witnesses and checking for possible video surveillance footage in the area. Funeral services are set for Sunday at Hillside. LAT, Radar Online, Variety, Daily Beast, The Hollywood Reporter, The Wrap
Her firm, Chasen and Company, released an obituary statement. Tons of reaction through the day. A sampling:
Rival PR firms offered assistance to grieving employees at Chasen and Company, showing up to help with phone calls and memorial details, Nikki Finke reported. She also reported that Chasen spent an hour on the phone with her last evening. according to Finke.
"Work over here has stopped," said Paramount PR executive Lea Yardum. "We're all in shock."
Friends and colleagues gathered tonight at the Four Seasons Hotel. Producer Scott Rudin is organizing a similar gathering in New York City tomorrow.
Richard Zanuck: "I'm devastated by this."
Amy Pascal: "We are heartbroken, shocked and completely devastated.'"
Roger Ebert: "The death of Ronni Chasen has deeply shaken Hollywood. Everyone knew her and liked her."
Caroline Graham: "Ronni actually delivered Oscars to more clients than anyone in the business. She did this by pure hard work and relentless campaigns on their behalf."
Steve Martin: "Avoir Ronnie Chasen, a Hollywood staple whom I worked with throughout my career, murdered last night in Beverly Hills. No humor here."
Virginia Madsen: "Ronnie Chasen was a friend of mine. She is loved. This senseless act of violence will be met with justice. We all mourn her death."
Zorianna Kit: "RIP Ronnie Chasen. You never deserved this horrible, violent death. I hope they find whoever did this to you. Justice will prevail."
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