Ronni Chasen Murder: Doubts Raised About 'Harold'
"Person of Interest" in the case shoots himself when accosted by police.
Dec. 3, 2010 — -- Neighbors of "Harold," the "person of interest" in the Ronni Chasen murder who committed suicide when confronted by the police on Wednesday, find it hard to believe the man they describe as "paranoid," who rode around on a bicycle, could be a professional killer.
"[His neighbors] described him as fairly tall -- 6 foot 3 but of slight build, so he was tall but thin, not a super imposing guy. They say that he wore grey gardening gloves every time he went out that he said was for his protection," Claire Martin of The Daily Beast told "GMA."
"Harold," who neighbors say bragged about killing Hollywood publicist Ronni Chasen, shot himself fatally, spraying blood all over the lobby of the Harvey Apartments in Hollywood. The grisly crime scene is now the epicenter of what is becoming one of the great Hollywood murder mysteries.
"Harold" was identified by the police as a "person of interest" in the Chasen murder, but the police refused to comment further on how they suspected him to be involved. Police are conducting ballistics tests to see if the gun used in the suicide of a man known to his neighbors as "Harold" is the same gun used to kill Chasen.
"Harold" reportedly told neighbors that he was expecting a big payoff for killing Chasen.
"You have an individual with apparently an extensive criminal history making comments to neighbors that he was involved in this case, however to date we dont know if that's really true," said Brad Garrett, ABC News consultant on crime and terrorism. "Obviously the police were very interested in this gentleman, and apparently were surveilling the building for some time. It'll be interesting to see what facts come out when the ballistics report comes back and when we know more about this man's history and what actually led the police to him."
Chasen, 64, who represented A-list movie stars and promoted some of Hollywood's top films, was driving home on Oct. 9 after attending the premiere party for the movie "Burlesque" when she was gunned down.
One neighbor, Terri Gilpin, 46, said the man always seemed paranoid, would ask if police were looking for him, and "had a screw loose." She said she once called police on him because he wandered into her apartment. "And he said like that publicist. I killed her. I got her and I'm waiting on my big pay."
But there are doubts as to whether "Harold" was involved in the murder at all.
"Neighbors said he rode a bike around town, they don't think he owned a car and he really didn't seem to fit the profile for a cold-blooded killer," Martin told "GMA."
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