The head of Colorado's prison system was shot and killed in the front door of his home and the only possible clue police have is a vague description of a car parked near his home moments before the attack, officials said today.
Tom Clements, 58, was shot to death around 8:30 p.m. Tuesday when he answered the door of his Monument, Colo., home.
Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper struggled to hold back tears today while speaking to reporters this morning and conceded that little is still known about a suspect or motive.
"It's an active investigation. We don't know anything -- or enough -- at this point," he said.
Police canvassed the neighborhood and found a witness who noticed a suspicious vehicle parked one street beyond Clements' home and put the time just before Clements' family called 911 to report the shooting, police said today.
"The vehicle was observed by this resident parked there, but it was running at the time," Lt. Jeff Kramer with the El Paso County sheriff's office said. "Two to three minutes later that vehicle was gone. Then, two minutes after that -- we're up to 8:37 p.m. -- that same local resident saw the vehicle traveling westbound."
Colorado Department of Corrections/AP Photo
Colorado Department of Corrections Director... View Full Size
Colorado Prison Chief Gunned Down at Home Watch Video
NYC Cop, Shot in Chest, Goes After Suspects Watch Video
Chicago Cop Kills Father After Motorcycle Accident Watch Video
The vehicle, which had its green dash lights on while parked, was described as a boxy, dark colored, 1990s model similar to a Lincoln. The same person said the car was seen headed towards a shopping district that is close to the interstate, Kramer said.
Officers are now proceeding with in depth searches of surrounding area trying to capitalize on daylight hours, Kramer said.
"We don't know if the shooting was random at this point. Because we have no suspect, we can't identify a motive," he said.
Police continue going house to house trying to find out what neighbors heard and saw, and K-9 units were deployed to see if they could locate anything that might be helpful in the investigation.
Kramer acknowledged that Clements' position "opens up the possibility of different people that would want to target him for one reason or another," but authorities are "not aware of any threats" he'd received.
Hickenlooper is scheduled today to sign legislation today that will place new limits on ammunition magazines and expands background checks for firearms. The new legislation is seen as a response to a string of mass shootings across the country, one of the worst of which was the Aurora, Colo., shooting in July 2012 that left 12 dead and injured 58.
Speaking today, Hickenlooper reflected on Clements' career and time working within the Colorado government. Clements was appointed head of Colorado's Department of Corrections in 2011 by Hickenlooper, after serving 31 years in the Missouri Department of Corrections.
"We lured Tom away," Hickenlooper said. "He was far and away the best choice we could find in the country. He understood the idea of building a team and operating an enterprise … His unfailing good nature would come through and everything he did."
Clements is survived by his wife, Lisa Clements, and his two daughters. Hickenlooper today ordered flags be lowered to half-staff all public buildings statewide in memory of Clements.
Tom Clements, 58, was shot to death around 8:30 p.m. Tuesday when he answered the door of his Monument, Colo., home.
Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper struggled to hold back tears today while speaking to reporters this morning and conceded that little is still known about a suspect or motive.
"It's an active investigation. We don't know anything -- or enough -- at this point," he said.
Police canvassed the neighborhood and found a witness who noticed a suspicious vehicle parked one street beyond Clements' home and put the time just before Clements' family called 911 to report the shooting, police said today.
"The vehicle was observed by this resident parked there, but it was running at the time," Lt. Jeff Kramer with the El Paso County sheriff's office said. "Two to three minutes later that vehicle was gone. Then, two minutes after that -- we're up to 8:37 p.m. -- that same local resident saw the vehicle traveling westbound."
Colorado Department of Corrections/AP Photo
Colorado Department of Corrections Director... View Full Size
Colorado Prison Chief Gunned Down at Home Watch Video
NYC Cop, Shot in Chest, Goes After Suspects Watch Video
Chicago Cop Kills Father After Motorcycle Accident Watch Video
The vehicle, which had its green dash lights on while parked, was described as a boxy, dark colored, 1990s model similar to a Lincoln. The same person said the car was seen headed towards a shopping district that is close to the interstate, Kramer said.
Officers are now proceeding with in depth searches of surrounding area trying to capitalize on daylight hours, Kramer said.
"We don't know if the shooting was random at this point. Because we have no suspect, we can't identify a motive," he said.
Police continue going house to house trying to find out what neighbors heard and saw, and K-9 units were deployed to see if they could locate anything that might be helpful in the investigation.
Kramer acknowledged that Clements' position "opens up the possibility of different people that would want to target him for one reason or another," but authorities are "not aware of any threats" he'd received.
Hickenlooper is scheduled today to sign legislation today that will place new limits on ammunition magazines and expands background checks for firearms. The new legislation is seen as a response to a string of mass shootings across the country, one of the worst of which was the Aurora, Colo., shooting in July 2012 that left 12 dead and injured 58.
Speaking today, Hickenlooper reflected on Clements' career and time working within the Colorado government. Clements was appointed head of Colorado's Department of Corrections in 2011 by Hickenlooper, after serving 31 years in the Missouri Department of Corrections.
"We lured Tom away," Hickenlooper said. "He was far and away the best choice we could find in the country. He understood the idea of building a team and operating an enterprise … His unfailing good nature would come through and everything he did."
Clements is survived by his wife, Lisa Clements, and his two daughters. Hickenlooper today ordered flags be lowered to half-staff all public buildings statewide in memory of Clements.