#NEWS : Suspect of murdering Beverly Hills publicist commits suicide

Thursday, December 2nd, 2010 at 8:07 pm | BNO News

By BNO News

LOS ANGELES (BNO NEWS) -- A Hollywood man, suspected of being the killer of Beverly Hills publicist Ronnie Chasen, on Wednesday night committed suicide after police went to his apartment with an arrest warrant.

The man, identified only as Harold, had been under surveillance for some time by the Beverly Hills Police Department. He was living at the Harvey Apartments in Hollywood and police wanted to arrest him in order to determine his role in Chasen's murder.

Law enforcement agents arrived at about 6:00 p.m.
local time at the building located on Santa Monica boulevard. When police officers approached Harold in the lobby, they ordered him to raise his hands. Instead, the suspect pulled out a pistol and shot himself in the head. He died at the scene.

The investigation remains open as it is not clear Harold’s role in the murder. Authorities suspect that the man either killed Chasen or was an accomplice. Harold was reportedly evicted from the building but returned periodically and asked if police had came looking for him.

A neighbor said that he was an ex-convict that served in state prison, the most recent for drug and firearms conviction. Harold also told the neighbor that he would die first before going back to prison.

Reportedly, Harold was bragging recently that he expected a $10,000 payment for a job he did previously. He later claimed that the money was from a lawsuit.

On November 16, publicist Ronnie Chasen was shot dead while driving her Mercedes-Benz in Beverly Hills. She was on her way back home after attending a party following the premiere of the film "Burlesque."

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