Tom Clements: Colorado official shot dead before new gun acts Metro.us

Tom Clements: Colorado official shot dead before new gun acts signed

The governor of Colorado called the shooting of prison chief Tom Clements “an act of intimidation.”
Credit: Reuters

Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper recently signed a package of contentious gun control bills while surrounded by family members of victims of the shootings in Aurora and Littleton.

Mere hours before, though, Colorado’s top prison official was shot dead in front of his home. He answered his front door about 8:30 p.m. Tuesday and was shot in the chest by an unknown gunman.

According to the Denver Post, Tom Clements, 58, was appointed executive director of Colorado Prisons in January 2011.

Colorado police say they have no suspects, but prisons have been placed on a partial lock-down and security has been increased in the state capitol and governor’s home.

The laws the governor signed hours later require background checks for private gun sales and ban magazines with more than 15 rounds.

Hickenlooper called Clements’ murder “an act of intimidation.”

Follow Mary Ann Georgantopoulos on Twitter @marygeorgant