Bill Gwatney | |
---|---|
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Chair of the Arkansas Democratic Party | |
In office 2007 – August 13, 2008 | |
Preceded by | Jason Willett |
Succeeded by | David Pryor [1] [2] |
Member of the
Arkansas Senate from the 19th district | |
In office 1993 – January 13, 2003 | |
Succeeded by | Terry Smith |
Personal details | |
Born | August 26, 1959 Little Rock, Arkansas, U.S. |
Died | August 13, 2008 Little Rock, Arkansas, U.S. | (aged 48)
Manner of death | Assassination |
Political party | Democratic |
Children | 2 |
William A. Gwatney (August 26, 1959 – August 13, 2008) was an American politician who served as the State Chair of the Democratic Party of Arkansas. [3] He had previously served as a State Senator for ten years and as the financial chair of Mike Beebe's campaign for Governor of Arkansas in 2006. Gwatney was selected as a superdelegate at the 2008 Democratic National Convention, but was assassinated before the convention. [4]
On August 13, 2008, Gwatney was shot three times by Timothy Dale Johnson, [5] [6] who entered Democratic Party headquarters in Little Rock, Arkansas. [7] Gwatney was taken to a hospital, but died later that day. [8]
The gunman had said he wanted to speak with Gwatney about volunteering, but sidestepped his assistant when she said he was busy. [9] After the shooting, the gunman fled the scene in his truck and led police on a 30-mile (48 km) chase out of Little Rock. [9] Johnson was killed by police after a PIT maneuver forced him off the road into a field near Sheridan. [7] [10] No motive was discovered, except Johnson quitting his job at a Target retail store earlier that day. [1] [2]
The University of Arkansas at Little Rock (UALR) Athletic Department posthumously inducted Gwatney into their Hall of Fame during a ceremony prior to the tip-off of the men's basketball game vs. New Orleans on February 26, 2009.
Bill Gwatney | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Chair of the Arkansas Democratic Party | |
In office 2007 – August 13, 2008 | |
Preceded by | Jason Willett |
Succeeded by | David Pryor [1] [2] |
Member of the
Arkansas Senate from the 19th district | |
In office 1993 – January 13, 2003 | |
Succeeded by | Terry Smith |
Personal details | |
Born | August 26, 1959 Little Rock, Arkansas, U.S. |
Died | August 13, 2008 Little Rock, Arkansas, U.S. | (aged 48)
Manner of death | Assassination |
Political party | Democratic |
Children | 2 |
William A. Gwatney (August 26, 1959 – August 13, 2008) was an American politician who served as the State Chair of the Democratic Party of Arkansas. [3] He had previously served as a State Senator for ten years and as the financial chair of Mike Beebe's campaign for Governor of Arkansas in 2006. Gwatney was selected as a superdelegate at the 2008 Democratic National Convention, but was assassinated before the convention. [4]
On August 13, 2008, Gwatney was shot three times by Timothy Dale Johnson, [5] [6] who entered Democratic Party headquarters in Little Rock, Arkansas. [7] Gwatney was taken to a hospital, but died later that day. [8]
The gunman had said he wanted to speak with Gwatney about volunteering, but sidestepped his assistant when she said he was busy. [9] After the shooting, the gunman fled the scene in his truck and led police on a 30-mile (48 km) chase out of Little Rock. [9] Johnson was killed by police after a PIT maneuver forced him off the road into a field near Sheridan. [7] [10] No motive was discovered, except Johnson quitting his job at a Target retail store earlier that day. [1] [2]
The University of Arkansas at Little Rock (UALR) Athletic Department posthumously inducted Gwatney into their Hall of Fame during a ceremony prior to the tip-off of the men's basketball game vs. New Orleans on February 26, 2009.