Suspect’s family offers condolences for slaying

? The family of a man who killed Arkansas’ Democratic Party chairman said Friday that the shooting was “beyond our understanding” and offered sympathy for the victim’s loved ones.

The sisters of Timothy Dale Johnson, who was shot dead by police after a chase, wrote that their “hearts are heavy with grief” for the loss suffered by Bill Gwatney’s family.

The statement was the first public comment by Johnson’s relatives but provided no further clues as to what motivated Johnson to barge into the state Democratic Party headquarters in Little Rock and shoot Gwatney several times.

The statement, released by Grant County Sheriff Lance Huey at the family’s request, did not identify the sisters.

Police said they had found no link between Johnson and Gwatney.

Johnson, 50, owned at least 16 guns, had antidepressant pills and made out a will before shooting Gwatney, police said. He had driven there more than 30 miles after quitting his job at a Target store over some graffiti written on a store wall.

Gwatney’s funeral is set for Monday in Little Rock.