Police working on theory that Chasen killing was planned

The Hollywood Reporter is going with a story that the working theory is that the attack on Ronni Chasen was planned in advance and not the result of road rage or a carjacking gone awry.

According to a Beverly Hills city official who was briefed by Police Chief David Snowden, the department's working theory centers on shots being fired out of another vehicle that pulled up next to the passenger side of Chasen's Mercedes-Benz around 12:30 a.m. Tuesday. It is believed the shooting occurred either as Chasen made a left turn from Sunset Boulevard onto Whittier Drive, or just after the turn was made. Her black E350 coupe traveled southward on Whittier until it crashed into a light pole at Greenway Drive, deploying the driver side airbag. It is believed the shots shattered the passenger side window.

Despite suspicion that the late-night shooting was planned, it remains unclear whether Chasen was personally targeted in the incident or why she might have been the target.

The city official also said police have obtained relevant footage from one or perhaps multiple security cameras located at a residence on Whittier, just down the street from the intersection of Whittier and Greenway. Sources tell THR that the property is the home of Sherry Hackett, widow of the late comedian and actor Buddy Hackett.