Person of Interest in Hollywood Publicist Murder Kills Himself

A person of interest in the killing of Hollywood publicist Ronni Chasen fatally shot himself Wednesday night after being approached for questioning by police in the lobby of a Los Angeles hotel.

The man had reportedly bragged to neighbors about shooting Chasen, and told a former neighbor he expected to be paid $10,000 for killing her, according to police.

Chasen was fatally shot five times last month in Beverly Hills while driving home from the premiere of the Cher film Burlesque. Chasen had attended the premiere with one of her clients, songwriter Diane Warren.

Police are saying the man was a "person of interest" and not a suspect and described him as an ex-con who had just been evicted. The coroner has yet to reveal the man's identity because his next of kin has not yet been notified.

Chasen was known for mounting Oscar campaigns for major motion pictures and helped promote the launch of here! Networks, the gay television network owned by the same parent company as The Advocate.