Wednesday, August 13, 2008

It's still hard to believe...

Arkansas Democratic Party Chairman Bill Gwatney, a longtime state senator and Central Arkansas car dealer, was fatally shot today in the offices of the State Party in Little Rock shortly before noon today. The assailant was a 51-year-old white male whom authorities have identified but are as yet refusing to name as of this writing.

After leaving the Democratic HQ, the suspect apparently went down the street to the Arkansas State Baptist building, pointed a gun at one of the workers, then hijacked a truck. He then led police on a chase down I-30, I-530 and US 167 before being detoured and stopped near Sheridan, where he was shot after shooting at law enforcement officials. The suspect was airlifted to the University of Arkansas Medical Sciences Center in Little Rock, where he died.

Our deepest thoughts and prayers go out to Gwatney's family, which includes his brother Russell, a Memphis car dealer, the state Democratic Party, and all Arkansans for this tragic loss.

The investigation into the shooting is ongoing, and it may be a while before we know how or why this tragedy happened; please remember the Gwatney family in your prayers tonight.

1 comment:

memphistigersfan said...

the Gwatney family will be in my prayers tonight