Police Search for Colorado Murder
By: NBC News
Updated: March 21, 2013
A manhunt is underway after the head of Colorado's Department of Corrections, Tom Clements, was gunned down at his home in a wooded neighborhood south of Denver.
Police say Clements was shot in the chest while answering his front door.
"Tom Clements dedicated his life to being a public servant, to making our state better, making world a better place. He is going to be deeply, deeply missed," said Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper.
A neighbor saw an unoccupied car left running minutes before the shooting, but authorities say they have no suspect or motive.
"Because the fact Mr. Clements served in the position he did at the Colorado Department of Corrections, we're sensitive to the fact that there could be any number of people who could have a motive for wanting to target him in a crime like this," said Lt. Jeff Kramer of the El Paso County Sheriff's Department.
Since 2011, Clements had overseen the departments 20 prisons and 6,000 employees.
For 31 years before that he worked in Missouri's prison system.
In a state where gun violence includes columbine, and the aurora movie theater massacre, Clements' murder happened only hours before new tough new gun legislation expanding background checks and limiting ammunition, was signed into law.
And now, flags lowered to half-staff in memory of another victim of gun violence.
