Ronni Chasen, Hollywood Publicist, Murdered While Driving Mercedes Benz

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (CBS/AP) Ronni Chasen, a longtime Hollywood publicist who promoted major films including the Academy Award-winning movie "Driving Miss Daisy," was found shot to death Tuesday in her Mercedes-Benz in Beverly Hills.

Chasen, 64, of Los Angeles was driving on Sunset Boulevard, when she was shot several times in the chest shortly before 12:30 a.m., and her Mercedes-Benz E350 sedan crashed into a light pole, according to a police statement.

Chasen died less than an hour later at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.

According to reports, Chasen had walked the red carpet at the premier of the movie "Burlesque" Monday night at Graumann's Chinese Theater. She was with her client, Diane Warren, who wrote the song "You Haven't Seen the Last of Me," which is sung by Cher in the film.

No suspects or motive were immediately known, police Lt. Tony Lee said.

Nahid Shekarchain, who lives near the scene of the shooting, told the Los Angeles Times she heard at least three gunshots sometime after midnight then found Chasen in the car with blood on her chest and gushing from her nose. The front passenger's window had been shattered.

Chasen was involved in Hollywood publicity since the 1970s, working on campaigns for movies and artists. She promoted "On Golden Pond," which won Academy Awards for best actor, actress and screenplay in 1981.