Arkansas Democratic Chairman Gwatney Has Died Due to Gun Shot Injuries

by Albert Milliron | August 13, 2008 at 10:39 am

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Update: According to the Clinton Campaign Chairman Bill Gwatney has died due to his gun shot injuries

Updated Statement from Hillary Clinton and President Bill Clinton

Hillary Clinton and President Bill Clinton issued the following joint statement today:

“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.”

LITTLE ROCK — Democratic Party Chairman Bill Gwatney was shot at the State Democratic Party Headquarters in Little Rock, Wednesday. His condition is unknown.

Update: 5:05 pm ET - The suspect has been confirmed dead.

Update: 4:11 pm ET - CNN will be streaming live a news conference. A link is provided here News Conference

Update 2:56 pm ET - There is a suspect in custady in this case. No further information has been released

First reported by KATV - See video Here

A witness speaks after a man with a gun entered the State Baptist Convention building downtown.
An aide from the governors office confirmed the shooting about 12:20 p.m. Wednesday.

The shooting occurred in a headquarter office about 11:49 a.m. Wednesday, Lt. Terry Hastings, spokesman for the Little Rock Police Department, said during a press conference at the scene at 1300 W. Capitol Ave.

Channel 11 - Arkansas Democratic Party Chairman Shot At State Party Headquarters

(Little Rock, Ark.) KTHV -- The Arkansas Democratic Party says the chairman, Bill Gwatney, is hospitalized in critical condition after a shooting at party headquarters in downtown Little Rock. Little Rock police say a suspect in the shooting was shot after after a chase that ended near Sheridan in Grant County

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. She said a man had come into the party headquarters and shot Gwatney several times.

The suspect reportedly entered the party headquarters and asked to speak with Gwatney before firing three shots.

The 1300 block of West Capitol 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.

KFSM- State Democratic Party chairman shot at state party headquarters

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. She said a man had come into the party headquarters and shot Gwatney several times.

The suspect reportedly entered the party headquarters and asked to speak with Gwatney before firing three shots.

The 1300 block of West Capitol 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.

Officers said they pursued a white man in his 40's that fled the scene in a blue Dodge pickup truck. Police say the suspect was apprehended following a high-speed chase that stretched into Grant County, south of Little Rock. Police say the suspect was shot by Arkansas State Police troopers during his capture near Sheridan. The suspect's condition was not immediately known.

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