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August 13, 2008politicalpolitical violencepublic official safetyparty securitypoliticalstate politicsdomestic violence

Gunman kills Arkansas Democratic Party chair Bill Gwatney at party headquarters

Timothy Dale Johnson entered Arkansas Democratic Party headquarters in Little Rock, demanded to see state party chair and former state senator Bill Gwatney, and shot him. Gwatney died later that day; Johnson was killed by police after a chase. Investigators did not identify a clear political motive, but the victim was a party leader and former elected official attacked at a party office.