Ronni Chasen, a well-known Hollywood publicist, was shot five times before she crashed her Mercedes-Benz in Beverly Hills early Tuesday, leading to her death. Mere hours earlier, she worked the Burlesque preem.
RadarOnline.com reports Chasen, 64, was shot while driving until she crashed into a light-pole around 12:30 a.m.
L.A. County Coroner’s Office confirmed that Chasen is the victim in the shooting/crash.
Police initially called to the scene said the victim – only described as a woman in her 60s – was "in and out of consciousness but breathing,” but a second look from firefighters called to the location determined she’d been shot multiple times.
She was subsequently taken via ambulance to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead.
Chasen had worked as a publicist since 1973 with high-profile films on her resume such as including Driving Miss Daisy and 1994’s Lolita.
The PR queen’s roster of talent included Natalie Wood, composer Hans Zimmer and movie producer Richard D. Zanuck.
MGM executive Ashley Boone called Chasen "one of the most respected publicity executives in the business" with "strength and expertise in developing, positioning and executing productive motion picture campaigns."
Police Lt. Tony Lee told media that no suspects nor motive were immediately known.
