LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) -- Former Arkansas governor and U.S. Sen. David Pryor will lead the state Democratic Party after the shooting death of its chairman, Bill Gwatney.

The party made the announcement early Friday afternoon. Gov. Mike Beebe has said the new chairman would serve through January, when the party previously was scheduled to pick a new chairman.

Gwatney was shot and killed in his office at the party headquarters Aug. 13. The gunman, Timothy Dale Johnson, was shot dead by police after leading them on a 30-mile chase. The shooting is still unexplained.

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