. `` With Mr. Smith 's background , we believe most likely it was a robbery gone bad , '' Publicker said . `` We believe it was a random act . '' Publicker said it appeared no connection existed between Chasen and Smith prior to slaying . `` The detectives were able to do numerous interviews and through the information obtained in the interviews , it appears that he did act alone , '' Publicker said . `` We believe his mode of transportation was by bicycle . '' Authorities said the investigation , which is 60 % to 70 % complete , remains ongoing . `` There are additional interviews to be conducted , but this is our belief at this time , '' Publicker said . `` Carjackings are not unusual in Los Angeles , but `` in our city it 's more than exceedingly rare , '' said Chief Snowden of Beverly Hills . `` It 's non-existent . '' `` We do n't believe it was a professional hit , and this is an open and ongoing investigation , '' Snowden said . Smith , an ex-convict , pulled a handgun and shot himself as
Los Angeles -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Hollywood publicist Ronni Chasen was murdered as she was driving through Beverly Hills , California , in a random `` robbery gone bad , '' by a man who killed himself last week , according to preliminary findings in the Beverly Hills police investigation . Speculation that Chasen was targeted by a professional hit was shot down Wednesday by investigators who said much of what has been reported by the media since her killing three weeks was untrue . Harold Martin Smith , 43 , was apparently riding his bicycle when he shot Chasen several times as she was on her way home from a Hollywood movie premiere party , police said . Smith later committed suicide with the same gun that was used in the Chasen killing , Beverly Hills Police Chief David Snowden said Wednesday . Smith shot himself in the head last week as police approached him for questioning as `` a person of interest '' while he was at his Hollywood apartment building . A preliminary ballistics test showed that Smith 's gun was used in the slaying of Chasen , 64 , said Beverly Hills Detective Sgt. Mike Publicker