Prisons boss shot dead at home

The head of Colorado’s prison service has been shot dead at his home and the gunman is on the loose.

Police said Tom Clements was shot at around 8.30pm local time last night when he answered his front door in Monument, north of Colorado Springs.

Search dogs have been called in to cover a wooded area around the home.

Police are also going house to house trying to find out what neighbours know about the shooting.

Governor John Hickenlooper appointed Mr Clements to the post in 2011 after he served for more than 30 years in the Missouri prison service.

The department operates 20 adult prisons and a juvenile detainment system.

Mr Hickenlooper said he was in disbelief over the killing.

“As your executive director, he helped change and improve (the department) in two years more than most people could do in eight years. He was unfailingly kind and thoughtful, and sought the ’good’ in any situation. I am so sad. I have never worked with a better person than Tom, and I can’t imagine our team without him,” he said.

Mr Clements leaves a wife and two daughters.