RIP

Bill Gwatney, the chairman of the Arkansas Democratic Party, was shot and killed at the state party HQ today. The gunman, who hasn't been officially identified, was also shot by police in an exchange of gunfire at the end of a 30-mile chase; he, like Gwatney, died of his injuries later in the day. There is a more detailed article at the Arkansas Times blog (DON'T READ THE COMMENTS SECTION).

For completeness's sake, here's the MetaFilter thread, which so far is surprisingly useless; and the thread at Under the Dome, the blog of the AK State House Majority Leader (where it is probably safe to read the comments section).