Ronni Chasen Murder: No Motive, No Suspects in Slaying of Hollywood Publicist

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (CBS/AP) Police had no motive or suspects in the shooting death of prominent Beverly Hills publicist Ronni Chasen, who was gunned down Tuesday after attending the premiere of the new Cher film "Burlesque."

Police say the 64-year-old was shot in the chest several times in the attack that sent her luxury car careening into a light post.

Investigators said that no threats had been reported against the publicist.

The attack stunned Hollywood, where she was a revered figure after promoting the Oscar-winning film "Driving Miss Daisy" and other major movies and stars over the years.

"I had the extreme pleasure of working with Ronni on 'Driving Miss Daisy,'" Morgan Freeman, who was nominated for an Oscar for the film, said in a statement. "We've been friends ever since. She is someone I greatly admired, and she will be remembered."

Chasen had been involved in Hollywood publicity since the 1970s. She also promoted "On Golden Pond," which won Academy Awards for best actor, actress and screenplay in 1981.

In recent years, she worked with a number of music clients, including Janet Jackson, composer Hans Zimmer, producer Glen Ballard and Diane Warren, who wrote the song "You Haven't Seen the Last of Me," which Cher sings in "Burlesque."

Fellow publicist Howard Bragman called the killing bizarre.

"She wasn't a shady character," he said. "It's a small community and she was one of the fixtures in it."

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