AR Dem Chair Bill Gwatney Shot and Killed

Update: 8:28 pm - Gwatney's killer has been identified as 50 year-old Timothy Dale Johnson, of Searcy, AR.

Update: 5:40 pm - Tragically, the Little Rock Police are reporting that Bill Gwatney, just 48 years old, has died of his wounds. Please keep him and his family and friends in your thoughts and prayers.

His assailant was not a former employee, as was originally thought.


Bill Gwatney, chairman of the Arkansas Democratic Party, was shot and critically wounded at the Party Headquarters in Little Rock earlier today. From ABC 13:

They say the incident began when a man entered the party office and asked to speak to the state chairman. Police say the man then fired three shots.

Party chairman Bill Gwatney has been taken to a hospital in critical condition.

The suspect was taken into custody after being shot by police, and has died.

Gwatney, as the state party chair, was a Superdelegate, and had endorsed Hillary Clinton.

Bill and Hillary Clinton have released the following statement:

"We are deeply saddened by the news that Bill Gwatney has passed away. His leadership and commitment to Arkansas and this country have always inspired us and those who had the opportunity to know him. Our prayers are with his family during this time."

Barack Obama has released a statement (via email):

"Michelle and I are heartbroken to hear about the tragic loss of Chairman Bill Gwatney. We're praying for his family and friends and all who worked with him and loved him."

Arkansas Business has more reactions here. Here's some raw video from the scene, shortly after police arrived. It is not graphic, but it shows the police speeding off to chase the suspect, and statements from witnesses.

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What a sad ending to this story. When I first wrote this story, I read a lot about Bill Gwatney in order to have a better handle on it. As I did, and as I wrote the story, I naturally hoped and expected that he would recover from his wounds.

The facts surrounding this story are still developing, and the motives of the 51 year old killer will doubtless become more clear. It is the inevitable next stage in stories such as these. Witnesses say that Gwatney shook hands with the man before he took out his gun and fired.

No amount of explanation or analysis will explain what it takes for someone to do something like that. It is the inhuman act of someone who ignores his victim's humanity.

The fact that Gwatney was a political figure will come into play, and if politics turns out to have been on the lips or in the mind of Gwatney's killer, I hope that people scorn the relevance of this man's views.

I also hope that people try to find out more about the man whose life was cut short. Maybe if we all try to share this sense of loss, rather than outrage, we can better appreciate those who remain.



Original Story - 3:40 pm - Bill Gwatney, chairman of the Arkansas Democratic Party, has been shot and critically wounded at the Party Headquarters in Little Rock. From ABC 13:

Police in Little Rock say they've captured a suspect in today's shooting at Arkansas Democratic Party headquarters.

They say the incident began when a man entered the party office and asked to speak to the state chairman. Police say the man then fired three shots.

Party chairman Bill Gwatney has been taken to a hospital in critical condition.

The suspect was taken into custody after being shot by police.

Gwatney, as the state party chair, is a Superdelegate, and has endorsed Hillary Clinton.

Bill and Hillary Clinton released the following statement, via email

"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. 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."

Barack Obama issued this statement (via email):

"I was shocked and saddened to hear about the tragedy in Arkansas. We're all grateful for the quick action of law enforcement and quick thinking by Chairman Gwatney's staff, and Michelle and I are keeping him and his family in our prayers."

We will update this story as it develops.

From The Arkansas Times:

Sources say they are working to confirm tentative information that the suspect, who was critically wounded, was a former employee of a Gwatney car dealership.

Gwatney was taken from the scene in an ambulance and a witness said the wound was serious. Police ... said later that he'd been shot three times in the upper body and was in critical condition. Reports from family members said his condition was grave. At 2 p.m., friends with the Gwatney family at the hospital told friends he was still in surgery.

The report goes on to say that, not long before the shooting, a man with a gun had confronted a building manager a few blocks away, saying he'd lost his job. Gwatney is an executive with a group of Chevrolet dealerships, and there had beemn layoffs at one of them this week.

The shooter's condition is still not known, but described as "critical at best." He was airlifted from the scene of his capture.DNC Chairman Howard Dean issued the following statement:

"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. While the investigation of this shooting continues, and our primary concern remains with Bill and his family, we commend the courageous and speedy action of law enforcement officials in apprehending the suspect."

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