( CNN ) -- The chairman of the Arkansas Democratic Party died Wednesday , about four hours after a shooting at the party 's headquarters , police said . Police block off the streets surrounding the state Democratic Party headquarters Wednesday in Little Rock . Chairman Bill Gwatney died at 3:59 Wednesday afternoon after a gunman entered his Little Rock office and shot him several times in the upper body , Little Rock Police Lt. Terry Hastings said . Authorities confirmed the news shortly after former President Clinton and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton released a statement expressing their condolences . `` We are deeply saddened by the news that Bill Gwatney has passed away , '' the former governor and first lady of Arkansas said . `` His leadership and commitment to Arkansas and this country have always inspired us and those who had the opportunity to know him . '' The shooting suspect , a white male in his fifties , also died Wednesday afternoon after a police chase ended in gunfire , Hastings said . Authorities are working to confirm his identity , but Hastings said there was no indication that he was a former employee . He said police were investigating possible motives , as well as why the suspect went into the Arkansas Baptist State Convention brandishing a gun . CNN affilliates KARK and KTHV identified the gunman as Timothy Dale Johnson , 50 , of Searcy , Arkansas . The suspect walked into the downtown headquarters , near the state Capitol building , before noon . The gunman said he was interested in volunteering , said Sam Higginbotham , a 17-year-old volunteer at the headquarters , The Associated Press reported . `` That was obviously a lie , '' Higginbotham said , the AP reported . The man asked for Gwatney and spoke with another employee before pushing his way into his office and pulling a gun on Gwatney , Hastings said . A woman in a nearby business told KTHV that Gwatney 's assistant came in and asked her to call police . Watch witnesses describe the incident » . `` I thought maybe someone had gotten hit by a car , '' said Sarah Lee , who works at a florist 's shop . `` She was just shaking really bad . '' But then the woman said that Gwatney had been shot and that three shots had been fired , Lee said . After the shooting , the suspect entered a nearby Arkansas Baptist State Convention and pointed a gun at an employee . The man was `` white as a sheet , '' convention official Dan Jordan said . `` I 've heard he said something do to about losing a job . ... He did n't threaten anyone . '' The man left through the front door shortly afterward , he said . A vehicle description was provided to police , Hastings said , and officers found it . A chase involving Little Rock police , Arkansas State Police and the Grant County Sheriff 's Office ended about 20 miles south of Little Rock , where the suspect was shot and taken into custody , he said . See a map of where the suspect was shot » . Police said the suspect drove into a ditch and around a set of spike strips in an attempt to evade police . Grant County authorities used a squad car to hit the suspect 's vehicle from behind and ram it into another unit . The man then got out of his vehicle and began shooting at officers , who returned fire . In Sheridan , Arkansas , where the chase ended , a crowd gathered near the suspect 's blue pickup as police cordoned off the area with yellow crime-scene tape . What appeared to be bullet holes could be seen in the truck 's windshield . Police did not confirm Gwatney 's identity until he died , but the Clintons released a statement earlier Wednesday that suggested Gwatney was involved . `` We are stunned and shaken by today 's shooting at the Arkansas Democratic Party where our good friend and fellow Democrat Bill Gwatney was critically wounded , '' they said . `` Bill is not only a strong chairman of Arkansas ' Democratic Party , but he is also a cherished friend and confidante . Our thoughts and prayers are with Bill and his family today and we wish him a quick recovery , '' they said . The Democratic National Committee also issued a statement Wednesday that identified Gwatney . `` This senseless tragedy comes as a shock to all of us , '' Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean said in a written statement . `` Our thoughts and prayers go out to Chairman Gwatney and his family and we pray for his full and speedy recovery . '' CNN 's Mary Lynn Ryan contributed to this report .
Arkansas Democratic Party Chairman Bill Gwatney dies after shooting . Suspect killed when police shot him in standoff . Chairman 's aide asked nearby store owner to call 911 . TL;DR A gunman opened fire at a state party office Tuesday morning, killing the chairman of Arkansas' Democratic Party.