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This short AP report posted an hour ago:

The sheriff's office says a search of Arkansas gunman Timothy Dale Johnson's home turned up 14 guns, antidepressants, his last will and testament and a Post-It note that bore his victim's last name and a telephone number.

Police are exploring possible links between Johnson, 50, and Arkansas Democratic Party chairman Bill Gwatney, 48. Johnson shot Gwatney to death Wednesday and was killed by officers after a 30-minute chase.

Gwatney owned three Little Rock area car dealerships and Wednesday's search of Johnson's home turned up two sets of keys for vehicles from Gwatney car lots. The guns included a pistol and 13 long guns.


 

From today's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette:

A man armed with a revolver shot and killed Arkansas Democratic Party Chairman Bill Gwatney at party headquarters in Little Rock late Wednesday morning, then led police on a 34-mile chase before confronting officers, who shot and killed him less than an hour later.

A member of the state Senate for a decade and the owner of three auto dealerships, Gwatney, 48, died at 3:59 p.m. at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Medical Center.

“We do not have any indication that the gunman knew Chairman Gwatney,” Little Rock police Lt. Terry Hastings said during a press briefing Wednesday afternoon.

Authorities identified the gunman as Timothy Dale Johnson, 50, of Searcy. Johnson was flown from where police shot him in the Grant County city of Sheridan to Baptist Health Medical Center in Little Rock, where he was pronounced dead.

[more]

Coverage in AP here.

USA Today's On Deadline blog:

... Police say they have no idea why Johnson then drove to Little Rock and shot the Democratic leader. KARK-TV reports that there are no known ties between the two men. (Here's a timeline of yesterday's events.)

The Daily Citizen says investigators searched Johnson's house in Searcy, Ark., a few hours after police shot him to death south of the capital.

“There was a large amount of ammunition found inside the house consistent with some of the weapons the suspect had down in Grant County,” Sgt. Greg Coney, a spokesman for the sheriff's department, tells the paper.

[more]


 

Details slowly emerging.

The AP filed this report about 45 minutes ago.

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.

Little Rock police spokesman Lt. Terry Hastings identified the suspect as Timothy Dale Johnson, 50, of Searcy. Police said they don't know a motive. However, they said that moments after the shooting he pointed a handgun at the building manager at the nearby the Arkansas Baptist headquarters. He told the manager "I lost my job," said Dan Jordan, a Baptist convention official.

Chairman Bill Gwatney died four hours after the shooting.

[more]


 

The AP released this a half-hour ago:

A man barged into the Arkansas Democratic headquarters and opened fire Wednesday, fatally shooting the state party chairman before speeding off in his pickup. Police later shot and killed the suspect after a 30-mile chase.

Police said they don't know the motive for the 51-year-old suspect, whose name has not been released.

They said Chairman Bill Gwatney, 49, died four hours later at University Hospital in Little Rock after the midday shooting near the state Capitol.

Witnesses said the gunman entered the party offices shortly before noon and said he wanted to see Gwatney about volunteering. Party officials said the man forced his way into Gwatney's office and fired three shots, then fled in a blue truck.

[more]


 

Before the news of Mr. Gwatney's death was announced, Ambinder just about summed it up here:

In the United States, in our open republic, party offices and campaign offices are open offices, welcoming volunteers and supporters and enthusiasts. That's the way it should be.

Those of us in political journalism feel a kinship with anyone who makes their living in the world of politics.

My thoughts are with the Arkansas Democratic Party and the family of chairman Bill Gwatney as Mr. Gwatney recovers.

Tragically, he did not.



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