Arkansas Democratic Party Chairman Shot & Killed At State Party Headquarters, Suspect

sara1981 · 08-13-2008, 10:09 PM

Arkansas Democratic Party Chairman Shot & Killed At State Party Headquarters, Suspect Killed
Arkansas Democratic Party Chairman Shot & Killed At State Party Headquarters, Suspect Killed - todaysthv.com | KTHV | Little Rock, AR

Quote:

(Little Rock, Ark.) KTHV -- Police say Arkansas Democratic Party chairman, Bill Gwatney, died after being shot at party headquarters in downtown Little Rock. Gwatney, 49, died at 3:59 p.m. at U.A.M.S. in Little Rock. The 50-year-old suspect, Timothy Dale Johnson, is also dead after being shot by authorities at the conclusion of a high-speed chase into Grant County.

Police say Johnson entered Democratic Party headquarters on West Capitol Avenue around noon and said he wanted to volunteer. Then he barged into Gwatney's office and shot him three times.

At a late afternoon news conference, Little Rock Police Lt. Terry Hastings said Gwatney was shot multiple times in his upper body. Hastings said there is no known connection between Gwatney and Johnson.

The 1300 block of West Capital was shut down after the shooting, just blocks from the state Capitol in downtown Little Rock. The FBI, along with the Arkansas State Police are also involved in the shooting investigation. Authorities say they are focusing on their investigation and awaiting results of Gwatney's autopsy.

Workers at the Republican Party of Arkansas headquarters, located about two blocks away, were sent home as a precaution.

Suspect Shot, Killed After Pursuit

Officers said they pursued Johnson when he fled the scene in a blue Dodge pickup truck. Authorities say Johnson apparently stole the truck which was parked nearby. Police say Johnson was apprehended and shot following a high-speed chase that stretched into Grant County, about 50 miles south of Little Rock. Little Rock police, Arkansas State Police, Grant County deputies and Sheridan police were all involved in the pursuit.

Johnson, a Searcy resident, managed to evade a roadblock near the Sheridan city limits. Officers in pursuit managed a maneuver to cause the suspect to lose control and stop his truck. Police say Johnson then fired two shots at a Grant County sheriff's unit. Grant County deputies and Arkansas State Police troopers returned fire, fatally wounding Johnson.

Governor Returns To Little Rock

Gov. Mike Beebe was on a flight to Springdale when the shooting occurred. A spokesman says Beebe returned to Little Rock after hearing about the shooting to be with Gwatney's family at a Little Rock hospital. Gwatney was Beebe's finance chairman during Beebe's run for governor in 2006.

Gwatney A Business, Legislative Leader

Gwatney owned three car dealerships in Pulaski County. He served 10 years in the state Senate. In addition to being state Democratic Party chairman, Gwatney was also CEO of Gwatney Chevrolet in Jacksonville. He had a background in banking, having been an executive vice president with First National Bank in Jacksonville, formerly owned by his family. Gwatney entered the state Senate in 1993 at age 33. Term limits ended his career in the state Legislature in 2003. During his last legislative session, he led efforts to reform state ethics rules, handle legislative redistricting and promote economic development. Gwatney was a superdelegate to this month's Democratic National Convention in Denver. The Gwatneys have two daughters.

sara1981 · 08-13-2008, 10:28 PM

Gunman kills Arkansas Democratic Party chairman
Gunman kills Arkansas Democratic Party chairman - Yahoo! News

Quote:

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - A man barged into the Arkansas Democratic headquarters Wednesday and fatally shot the state party chairman before speeding off in his pickup. Police later shot and killed the suspect after a 30-mile chase. Police identified the suspect as 50-year-old Timothy Dale Johnson of Searcy, a town about 50 miles northeast of Little Rock.

They didn't know a motive. However, moments after the shooting, Johnson pointed a handgun at a worker at the nearby Arkansas Baptist headquarters. An official there said he told the worker, "I lost my job."

Chairman Bill Gwatney died four hours after the shooting. The 48-year-old former state senator had been planning to travel to the Democratic National Convention later this month as a superdelegate. He had backed Hillary Rodham Clinton but endorsed Barack Obama after she dropped out of the race.

Clinton and her husband, former President and former Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton, issued a statement saying Gwatney was "not only a strong chairman of Arkansas' Democratic Party, but ... also a cherished friend and confidant."

Witnesses said the gunman entered the party offices shortly before noon and said he wanted to see Gwatney.

"He said he was interested in volunteering, but that was obviously a lie," said 17-year-old party volunteer Sam Higginbotham. He said that when the suspect was refused a meeting with Gwatney, he pushed past employees to reach the chairman's office.

Hastings said the suspect and Gwatney introduced themselves to one another, at which time the suspect "pulled out a handgun and shot Gwatney several times." Hastings didn't say what the two discussed, but said their discussion was not a heated one.

Police said after leaving the office, the suspect pointed a gun at a worker at the Baptist headquarters seven blocks away. When asked what was wrong, the man said "I lost my job" said Dan Jordan, the group's business manager.

After the suspect avoided spike strips and a roadblock along U.S. 167 near Sheridan, police rammed his car, spinning it, said Grant County Sheriff Lance Huey. He got out of his truck and began shooting, and state police and sheriff's deputies fired back, striking him several times, he said.

Hastings said investigators found at least two handguns in the suspect's truck.

There was a busy signal Wednesday night at a phone number listed under Johnson's name. Little Rock police said they could find no criminal record for him.

The state Capitol was locked down for about an hour until police got word the gunman had been captured, said Arkansas State Capitol police Sgt. Charlie Brice.

Gov. Mike Beebe, a Democrat who served with Gwatney in the state Senate, had been on a flight to Springdale in northwestern Arkansas. He returned to Little Rock and joined an impromptu vigil at University Hospital after what he called a "shocking and senseless attack." Gwatney had been Beebe's finance chairman during the governor's 2006 campaign.

"Arkansas has lost a great son, and I have lost a great friend. There is deep pain in Arkansas tonight because of the sheer number of people who knew, respected and loved Bill Gwatney," Beebe said.

Karen Ray, executive director of the Republican Party of Arkansas, sent her workers home early "out of an abundance of caution."

"Our hearts go out to everyone at the Democratic headquarters. What a tragedy," Ray said. "This is just a very upsetting, troubling and scary thing for our staff as well."

Sarah Lee, a sales clerk at a flower shop across street from the party headquarters, said that around noon Gwatney's secretary ran into the shop and asked someone to call 911.

Lee said the secretary told her the man had come into the party's office and asked to speak with Gwatney. When the secretary said she wouldn't allow him to meet with Gwatney, the man went into his office and shot him, Lee said.

Last November, a distraught man wearing what appeared to be a bomb walked into a Clinton campaign office in New Hampshire and demanded to speak to the candidate about access to mental health care. A hostage drama dragged on for nearly six hours until he peacefully surrendered.

The confrontation brought Clinton's campaign to a standstill just five weeks before the New Hampshire primary. Security for her was increased as a precaution. She said she did not know the suspect.

sara1981 · 08-14-2008, 12:19 AM

Police Identify Suspect In Gwatney Shooting
Update: Suspect Quits Job At Conway Target Before Shooting - todaysthv.com | KTHV | Little Rock, AR

Friends Colleagues Express Sorrow Over Gwatney's Death
Friends Colleagues Express Sorrow Over Gwatney's Death - todaysthv.com | KTHV | Little Rock, AR

Arkansas party leader shot dead
BBC NEWS | Americas | Arkansas party leader shot dead

Arkansas Democratic Party chairman shot dead
Arkansas Democratic Party chairman shot dead - Telegraph

BradB08 · 08-14-2008, 04:37 AM

Arkansas Democratic chairman killed in shooting - CNN.com

I wonder if the shooter hated liberals/democrats like the one who shot people in an Unitarian Church a few weeks back?

***~SG~*** · 08-14-2008, 04:43 AM

Mod's Note:

Thread's merged.

Wokamuka · 08-14-2008, 01:24 PM

Remember, folks, Mr. Johnson was shooting in self-defense!

Texan Guy · 08-14-2008, 01:32 PM

Sucks to hear that.....

sara1981 · 08-14-2008, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Texan Guy

Sucks to hear that.....

i know but i cant believe that! my aunt told my mom about that man to shot down they later dies few hours.

Jiro · 08-14-2008, 01:47 PM

for some odd reason - I thought this shooting was related to 24-hrs curfew in Arkansas and I thought the gunman was angry about it and shot him.

Dixie · 08-14-2008, 10:29 PM

No the curfew and this gentleman are unrelated.

I expect the motives to come through once the investigation is complete through witness accounts and interviews with family and friends of both the victim and the aggressor.

Wokamuka · 08-14-2008, 11:27 PM

The gunman was a typical loner who'd, for 20 years, led his neighbors to believe that nothing was out of the ordinary. He'd flipped - simple as that. What sparked it? We can only guess. It's sad that he'd gone it alone. What a lonely thing to do.

Jiro · 08-15-2008, 01:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wokamuka

What sparked it?

he said "I lost my job"

sara1981 · 08-15-2008, 02:37 AM

Update: Police Say Johnson Had 'Gwatney' Note & Reports of Harassment
Update: Police Say Johnson Had 'Gwatney' Note & Reports of Harassment - todaysthv.com | KTHV | Little Rock, AR

i watch news says mr johnson have 14 guns! and also the woman says that man send her flower and candy to her and have no comment for that.

sara1981 · 08-15-2008, 02:44 AM

3:05 p.m. - Gwatney Assailant Wrote Name on Note
3:05 p.m. - Gwatney Assailant Wrote Name on Note

Quote:

Descriptive list of weapons and ammunition found in Johnson's home:

*Thompson 50-caliber rifle
*Remington 700 rifle
*CZ rifle
*U.S. M-1 rifle
*Mohawk 600/308 rifle
*Winchester .22-rifle
*Benelli double-barrel shotgun
*12-gauge shotgun
*CZ 20-gauge shotgun
*Remington .25/06 muzzle loader
*New Englander muzzle loader
*CZ M-1 carbine
*Browning .22-caliber pistol
*Smith and Wesson gun box

sara1981 · 08-15-2008, 02:46 AM

Gwatney to be Buried on Monday
2:45 p.m. - Gwatney to be Buried on Monday

Quote:

A Little Rock church has confirmed that funeral services for State Democratic Party chairman Bill Gwatney will be held Monday, August 18.

The service will be held at two o'clock in the afternoon at Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church at 4823 Woodlawn Avenue.

The church's Senior Pastor Victor Nixon will preside.

Gwatney died Wednesday afternoon after being shot in his office by Timothy Dale Johnson, 50, of Searcy.

Police said Thursday that a search of Johnson's home turned up a note with the name Gwatney written on it, a large number of weapons, and other items.

sara1981 · 08-15-2008, 03:04 AM

Gwatney Shooting Timeline
11:50 a.m. - Gwatney Shooting Timeline

08-14-2008, 12:19 AM	#3 (permalink)
sara1981 Batista's fans Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: North Little Rock,Ar Posts: 3,281	Police Identify Suspect In Gwatney Shooting Update: Suspect Quits Job At Conway Target Before Shooting - todaysthv.com \| KTHV \| Little Rock, AR Friends Colleagues Express Sorrow Over Gwatney's Death Friends Colleagues Express Sorrow Over Gwatney's Death - todaysthv.com \| KTHV \| Little Rock, AR Arkansas party leader shot dead BBC NEWS \| Americas \| Arkansas party leader shot dead Arkansas Democratic Party chairman shot dead Arkansas Democratic Party chairman shot dead - Telegraph __________________

08-14-2008, 04:37 AM	#4 (permalink)
BradB08 You talkin' to me? Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Vermont Posts: 1,734 Blog Entries: 1	Arkansas Democratic Chairman assassinated Arkansas Democratic chairman killed in shooting - CNN.com I wonder if the shooter hated liberals/democrats like the one who shot people in an Unitarian Church a few weeks back?

08-14-2008, 04:43 AM	#5 (permalink)
*~SG~* Super Moderator Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Australia Posts: 3,979	Mod's Note: Thread's merged. __________________

08-14-2008, 01:24 PM	#6 (permalink)
Wokamuka 1.20.09 : end of an error Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: U.S.A. Posts: 1,827	Remember, folks, Mr. Johnson was shooting in self-defense! __________________

08-14-2008, 01:32 PM	#7 (permalink)
Texan Guy Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Ireland Posts: 1,774	Sucks to hear that..... __________________

Today
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08-14-2008, 01:47 PM	#9 (permalink)
Jiro YOU DOMESTIC DISSENT! Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: NJ Posts: 7,342	for some odd reason - I thought this shooting was related to 24-hrs curfew in Arkansas and I thought the gunman was angry about it and shot him.

08-14-2008, 10:29 PM	#10 (permalink)
Dixie Hooray its November! Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Arkansas Posts: 4,199	No the curfew and this gentleman are unrelated. I expect the motives to come through once the investigation is complete through witness accounts and interviews with family and friends of both the victim and the aggressor. __________________ Visit my Deaf Blog Signature banner created by me, please do not steal!

08-14-2008, 11:27 PM	#11 (permalink)
Wokamuka 1.20.09 : end of an error Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: U.S.A. Posts: 1,827	The gunman was a typical loner who'd, for 20 years, led his neighbors to believe that nothing was out of the ordinary. He'd flipped - simple as that. What sparked it? We can only guess. It's sad that he'd gone it alone. What a lonely thing to do. __________________

08-15-2008, 02:37 AM	#13 (permalink)
sara1981 Batista's fans Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: North Little Rock,Ar Posts: 3,281	Update: Police Say Johnson Had 'Gwatney' Note & Reports of Harassment Update: Police Say Johnson Had 'Gwatney' Note & Reports of Harassment - todaysthv.com \| KTHV \| Little Rock, AR i watch news says mr johnson have 14 guns! and also the woman says that man send her flower and candy to her and have no comment for that. __________________

08-15-2008, 03:04 AM	#16 (permalink)
sara1981 Batista's fans Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: North Little Rock,Ar Posts: 3,281	Gwatney Shooting Timeline 11:50 a.m. - Gwatney Shooting Timeline __________________

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