BREAKING: Arkansas Democratic Chairman Shot At Little Rock Headquarters

Arkansas Democratic Chairman Bill Gwatney was shot today in the party’s Little Rock offices and is in critical condition.

A gunman entered the Arkansas Democratic Party headquarters Wednesday and shot the party chairman, who was hospitalized in critical condition, authorities said. The gunman asked to speak to the party chairman, Bill Gwatney, and fired three shots at the office near the state Capitol.

“He came in and went into this office and started shooting,” police Lt. Terry Hastings told reporters near the party headquarters. Gwatney, a former legislator, was in critical condition, Hastings said. Party officials confirmed the victim was Gwatney. The suspect was chased into Grant County, south of Little Rock, and apprehended after being shot, the police spokesman said. The suspect’s condition and motive were not known.

Gwatney owns several car dealerships in Little Rock and there is speculation that the shooter may have been a disgruntled customer. Others fear that this shooting may be similar to last month’s church shooting in Knoxville, Tennessee.

UPDATE: Gwatney has died. He was slated to be a superdelegate at the DNC.