BILL GWATNEY IN CRITICAL CONDITION AFTER GUNMAN OPENS FIRE IN PARTY HEADQUARTERS

There’s breaking news out of Arkansas that a gunman entered the State Democratic Party headquarters earlier today and shot Chairman Bill Gwatney three times, leaving him in critical condition.

“He came in and went into this office and started shooting,” police Lt. Terry Hastings told reporters near the party headquarters. [...]

The suspect was chased into Grant County, south of Little Rock, and apprehended after being shot, the police spokesman said. The suspect’s condition was not known.

Sarah Lee, 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 and shot Gwatney multiple times.

Lee said the secretary told her the man had come into the party’s office and asked to speak with Gwatney. When the secretary said she wouldn’t allow him to meet with Gwatney, the man went into his office and shot him, Lee said.

She said the secretary described the man as in his 40s and white and drove off in a blue truck. [Townhall]

I spoke with South Carolina GOP Chairman Katon Dawson shortly after news of this broke, and he expressed his sympathy for those involved.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with [Gwatney] and the entire Arkansas Democratic Party family,” Dawson said. “We wish him a speedy and full recovery.”

Politics can often be a “blood sport,” but it should absolutely never ever come down to physical violence. This is a sad event that will hopefully never be replicated.

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UPDATE: The suspect in this case has reportedly died from wounds received while fleeing police.

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UPDATE 2: Sadly, Bill Gwatney has died.