UPDATE: CNN [1]

The chairman of the Arkansas Democratic Party died Wednesday, hours after a shooting at the party's headquarters, according to a statement from former President Clinton and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton.

UPDATE: AFP [2]

WASHINGTON (AFP) — The chairman of the Democratic Party of Arkansas was shot and killed Wednesday by a gunman who opened fire at the party's state headquarters, according to ex-president Bill Clinton and his wife Hillary Clinton.

"We are deeply saddened by the news that Bill Gwatney has passed away," the Clintons, who lived for years in the Arkansas capital of Little Rock while Bill Clinton was governor, said in a joint statement.

FIRST REPORT: KTHV Little Rock [3]

The Arkansas Democratic Party says the chairman, Bill Gwatney, is hospitalized in critical condition after shooting at party headquarters in downtown Little Rock. Little Rock police say a suspect in the shooting was shot after after a chase that ended near Sheridan in Grant County.

The shooter's motive is not known at this time. Another report [4] says a man of similar description flashed a gun at the Arkansas Baptist Convention building in downtown Little Rock earlier.

You know, after the Knoxville church shooting and now this, I am actually starting to worry a little. It could be that Democrats and other conservative movement opposition are going to have to start taking all the hateful remarks and veiled threats more seriously, especially if they are directed at individuals and especially if there is any specificity.

UPDATE: AP reports [5] that the suspected gunman has died after being wounded in a shootout with police following a pursuit.

UPDATE: MSNBC [6]

Witnesses told NBC Little Rock affiliate the shooter talked with a few party employees at the headquarters, complaining that he had lost his job.

UPDATE: KTHV Little Rock [7]

OfficeTHV's Charles Crowson reports that shortly after the shooting at the Democratic headquarters, a man fitting the description of the shooting suspect threatened workers at the Arkansas State Baptist Convention headquarters located several blocks away. Business manager Dan Jordan says a man with a gun told another manager that he'd just lost his job. Crowson reports the man pointed a gun at a security guard, but didn't fire.

(Another report [8] says this incident occurred before the Dem HQ shooting.)