Little Rock Police Department have released the name of the man accused of shooting and killing State Democratic Chairman Bill Gwatney Wednesday at party headquarters.
Police say the suspect, 50 year-old Timothy Dale Johnson of Searcy, had no criminal history. He was killed Wednesday afternoon after a shootout with police.
There are still a lot of unanswered questions. Police are still unsure of a motive for the shooting. Everyone Channel 7 talked to Wendesday still seems to be in a state of shock and grief.
A wreath and flowers sit outside the door of the State Democratic Party headquarters Wednesday evening--somber reminders of a deadly day.
Police say Johnson walked into the headquarters just before noon and asked to speak to Chairman Bill Gwatney.
(Terry Hastings, Little Rock Police Department) "They introduced themselves. at that time, he pulled out a handgun and shot Chairman Gwatney several times and then turned and left the business."
A secretary ran across the street and got this woman to call for help. (Hasting) “She just said that someone has shot the chairman. There's three shots. I don't know who all has been hit or if they're dead or what and so we called 911.”
Gwatney was taken to a local hospital where he died hours later.
Police say after leaving party headquarters, Johnson ran to the nearby Arkansas Baptist State Convention, threatening an employee there.
(Dan Jordan, Arkansas Baptist Convention) "He pulled and cocked the gun and pointed it at him and our building manager then ran down the way to get away from him."
Johnson then led police on a high speed chase all the way to grant county, ending in a shootout along Highway 46. The suspect was airlifted to a local hospital and pronounced dead. A motive is still unknown.
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