Arkansas Democratic Party Chair Bill Gwatney Killed by Gunman
Currently, the motive for the murder of Arkansas Democratic party chair Bill Gwatney is unknown. (NYT) Gwatney, a supporter of Hillary Clinton and a superdelegate to the Democratic National Convention, was shot in his office at Democratic party headquarters in Little Rock. (NYT) He was rushed to the hospital, but died several hours later.(NYT)
The police said that the gunman was Timothy D. Johnson, 50, of Searcy, Arkansas. (NYT) After going to Democratic headquarters he asked to meet Gwatney. (NYT) After they’d introduced themselves, Johnson shot Gwatney several times. (NYT)
After leaving Democratic headquarters, the suspect was eventually killed in a gun battle with the police:
[T]he suspect next entered the Arkansas Baptist State Convention building several blocks away, where he pointed a gun at an employee but did not shoot. Dan Jordan, the convention’s business manager, told KTVH-TV that the suspect said he had just lost his job.The suspect then fled in a blue Dodge truck, beginning a chase that involved several law enforcement agencies and reached into the next county.
When officers immobilized the truck, the suspect got out and began shooting. The police returned fire, wounding him. The suspect was flown to Baptist Health Medical Center, where he later died. Lieutenant Hastings said several weapons were recovered. (NYT)
More details at The New York Times.
The Clintons released a statement.
“We are stunned and shaken by today’s shooting at the Arkansas Democratic Party where our good friend and fellow Democrat Bill Gwatney was critically wounded,” they said.
“Bill is not only a strong chairman of Arkansas’ Democratic Party, but he is also a cherished friend and confidante. Our thoughts and prayers are with Bill and his family today and we wish him a quick recovery,” they said. (CNN)
Howard Dean wrote:
“This senseless tragedy comes as a shock to all of us…. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Chairman Gwatney and his family and we pray for his full and speedy recovery.”(CNN)
6 Responses to “Arkansas Democratic Party Chair Bill Gwatney Killed by Gunman”
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Last I heard he was in critical condition but still alive.
This really sucks. A shooting of a Clinton supporter, a superdelegate in Little Rock AR at a democratic headquarters, on the eve of the Convention in Denver, may just be a coincidence.
Let's hope it is.
Oddly, I've been watching the news all day and have seen barely a mention of this story. A blip here and there while they focus on the Nth day of Edwards admitting he had an affair with someone…or the little lost girl in FLA…or daisy the cat stuck in a tree…
What's up with that? A superdelegate for Clinton getting murdered isn't big enough news??
Ironic that the gunman was fired from Target….
The gunmen after getting hit by a police car opened fire- that to me says he was suicidal to some extent. And yet the media would rather focus on Edwards and Michael Phelps.
That's why i get my news off the internets.
This is terrible, his family will be in my prayers today.
This is just awful news…no family should have to endure this.
On another note, why does it sound to me like Sil, while not outright blaming this on Obama (for a change), seems to have her tinfoil hat firmly in place? “May just be a coincidence”?! Sorry Sil, but the world does not revolve around Hillary (or Obama or any of us for that matter).
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