The Palm Springs International Awards Gala and Film Festival has issued a reward of $100,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for the murder of Ronni Chasen, who was shot and killed in the early hours on Tuesday, November 16, 2010. The festival was reportedly a client of Ronni Chasen.

According to the NY Times, “Early Tuesday, Ms. Chasen, 64, was shot repeatedly in the chest while driving on palm tree-lined Whittier Drive, often used as a cut-though between Sunset and Wilshire Boulevards. Her black Mercedes-Benz crashed into a street light, and the air bags deployed. She was pronounced dead at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center at 1:30 a.m.

Although witnesses reported hearing five gunshots, the police on Wednesday would say only that Ms. Chasen suffered “multiple” gunshot wounds, pending the results of a coroner’s report.“

Festival Chairman Harold Matzner issued a statement today regarding her death: “Famed Hollywood publicist, Ronni Chasen, has been my partner in selecting all honorees and presenters for the Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Gala for the past 10 years.  Ronni handled all negotiations with the studios and she and her team made all of the arrangements to bring the celebrity honorees to Palm Springs for the event.  The honorees were Ronni’s responsibility until they arrived in Palm Springs.  The Awards Gala has the amazing record of having every single honoree appear on stage for the past nine year.  A very good lady, a good friend…and a genius at her craft…Her death is very, very sad and mystifying….  Ronni has played the most important part in the Awards Gala’s success.  She will be very missed by all in the Festival family…and by me especially ….!”

If you have any information about the death of Ronni Chasen please contact Beverly Hills Police Department Tip Line at (310) 288-2656.