Arkansas Democratic Party Chair Bill Gwatney, 49, was shot this afternoon in Little Rock, Arkansas. He was at party headquarters when a lone gunman, Tim Johnson, 50, of Searcy, Arkansas, burst into his office and fired three shots. Gwatney was hospitalized in critical condition and died four hours later, at 3:59 p.m.
Police Lt. Terry Hastings reported that authorities chased the suspect into Grant County, south of Little Rock, and the gunman was fatally wounded during a 30 mile chase.
Millie McLain, a reporter for the Sheridan Headlight newspaper said the suspects blue truck was turned sideways along a highway northeast of Sheridan. Emergency crews were loading the man into a Med-Flight helicopter.
The Arkansas State Capitol was locked down for an hour until police got word that the shooter had been killed, according to a Capitol policeman Charlie Brice.
Gwatney’s aide reportedly ran across the street to a flower shop to summon help after the shooter entered Gwatney’s office and started shooting. The chairman’s aide burst into the floral business at noon in a highly agitated state and asked someone to call 911, according to Sarah Lee, a sales clerk.
Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton who still have strong ties to Arkansas, where Bill Clinton was governor before running for President, issued this statement after learning of the chairman’s death:
“We are deeply saddened by the news that Bill Gwatney has passed away. His leadership and commitment to Arkansas and his country has always inspired us and those who had the opportunity to know him.”
Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean issued this statement:
“This senseless tragedy comes as a shock to all of us. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Chairman Gwatney’s family.”
Source: CNN