Publicist Dies on Way to Funeral for Hollywood Shooting Victim

3:44 PM PST 12/22/2011 by Daniel Miller

Comments

Scotty Dugan

Scotty Dugan was informally handling public relations on the forthcoming film 'God's Country,' which was produced by John Atterberry, the victim of the Dec. 9 attack.

Publicist Scotty Dugan died Dec. 21 while traveling to the funeral for John Atterberry, the music executive and film producer who was killed in the Dec. 9 shooting at the intersection of Sunset Boulevard and Vine Street in Hollywood. Dugan was 52.

Music Executive Killed in Hollywood Shooting Remembered: 'Warm, Big-Hearted' (Exclusive Photos)

L.A. Shooting: Hollywood Reporter Editor Shot, Recalls Incident

Dugan was informally handling public relations for God's Country, a forthcoming Christian-themed independent film produced and co-written by Atterberry. Dugan also was the former manager and publicist for the film's star, Jenn Gotzon.

"He was the inspirational backbone of my career," Gotzon said. "Everything I've basically gotten has been from Scotty's belief in me. I have extraordinary memories.”

A spokesman for the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office did not have information on the cause of death and said Dugan's body has yet to be examined. Gotzon said Dugan was waiting for a Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority train when witnesses saw him reach for his head in pain before collapsing on the ground. He was taken to Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center in Burbank, where he was pronounced dead.

According to his profile on IMDB, Dugan studied journalism at Boston University and worked at the Boston Herald before moving to Los Angeles and working for a short time in the late 1980s as an editor at The Hollywood Reporter. He later started a publicity company, working on campaigns for such clients as Charlton Heston and Barbra Streisand. He also served as a script processor at Warner Bros., according to IMDB.

Dugan was on his way to Atterberry's funeral, which was held at the West Angeles Church of God in Christ in South Los Angeles. Atterberry died Dec. 12 from wounds he suffered during the Dec. 9 attack carried out by Tyler Brehm, 26, who was shot and killed by police after firing as many as 20 bullets indiscriminately at drivers during a mid-morning rampage.

Atterberry, 40, was also a music executive and chief financial officer and senior partner of GridLock Group, an events promotion firm based in Los Angeles.

Email: Daniel.Miller@THR.com

Twitter: @DanielNMiller