Arkansas State Democratic Party chairman shot, killed

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LITTLE ROCK - A gunman entered the Arkansas Democratic Party's headquarters just before noon Wednesday and shot party Chairman Bill Gwatney several times before leading police on a high speed chase into Grant County where he was shot and killed.

Police identified the gunman as 50-year-old Timothy Dale Johnson of Searcy.

Gwatney, who spent 10 years in the state Senate and owned three General Motors car dealerships in Pulaski County, died just before 4 p.m. at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. He was 48.

Gov. Mike Beebe, who served with Gwatney in the Senate, named his longtime friend and former colleague Democratic chairman in 2006 after being elected governor.
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Little Rock police detectives were trying to determine a motive for the shooting but had no indication the suspect knew Gwatney, police spokesman Lt. Terry Hastings said. He was not employed at any of the Gwatney car dealerships, Hastings said.

http://www.arkansasnews.com/archive/2008/08/14/News/347521.html