Chasen Murder 'Person of Interest' Threatened to Kill

Mug shot of Harold Martin Smith -- the "person of interest" in the Ronni Chasen murder case -- and we've learned he had an open criminal case where the victim alleged Smith threatened to kill her husband.

Smith -- seen here in a 2009 mug shot taken in connection with an Oregon case -- was arrested by the Manhattan Beach Police Department, also in 2009, for prowling and marijuana possession. Smith pled guilty and served 30 days in jail -- but was a no-show for a related court hearing, so an arrest warrant was issued. 

The victim tells Smith was going house to house in Manhattan Beach trying to break in, and she saw him enter her backyard and then try to enter her house through the back door. The victim says her husband confronted him and he angrily responded, "I'm going to kill you."  The couple called the cops and Smith was arrested.

As we first reported ... although Smith is a "person of interest" in the Chasen murder, detectives believe he may not have been involved, and shot himself because he believed he was going to be arrested and sent back to prison for several burglaries in his neighborhood.

Lead in Publicist Murder Case Could Hit Dead End

The "person of interest" in the Ronni Chasen murder case may have actually shot himself dead because he feared he was going back to prison for possibly committing several burglaries in the area where he lived, and not for the Chasen murder ... law enforcement sources tell .

As we first reported yesterday, the "person of interest" is Harold Martin Smith.  He has a long criminal record, including two robberies and at least 4 burglaries.  

Our law enforcement sources tell us ... there were several recent burglaries near the Harvey Apartments in L.A. -- where Smith lived -- and the suspect matches Smith's description.

Law enforcement sources tell us ... detectives believe there's a good chance that when Smith was confronted by law enforcement Wednesday, he thought he was being arrested for the burglaries, not the Chasen murder.

As for the Beverly Hills PD, our sources say detectives have no evidence so far linking Smith to the crimes.  Detectives are conducting ballistics and other forensic tests, but the results are not expected back until next week.  Until then, Smith will remain a person of interest.