Prisons Boss Murder: Saudi Inmate Link Probed

Investigators probing the fatal shooting of Colorado's top prisons official are examining possible ties to a recent transfer denial for a Saudi inmate.

Tom Clements, who headed up the state's Department of Corrections, was shot dead after answering his front door in Monument, north of Colorado Springs, on Tuesday night.

Police say it is unclear if the attack was random or linked to the 58-year-old's job.

But sources have indicated to the local news station KDVR-TV that their primary working theory involves the case of Homaidan al Turki.

He was jailed in 2006 after sexually assaulting a housekeeper and keeping her as a virtual slave for four years.

Just two weeks ago, Mr Clements turned down his appeal to serve out the rest of his sentence in a Saudi Arabian jail.

Al Turki, a well-known member of Denver's Muslim community, insists his conviction was politically motivated.

He owned a company that sold recordings of sermons recorded by American-born extremist cleric Anwar al Awlaki, who was killed in a US drone strike in Yemen in 2011.

Sheriff's Lieutenant Jeff Kramer said he was familiar with the al Turki connection but added: "There are any number of people that may have a motive to target him for a crime."

Investigators are looking for a dark-coloured "boxy" car seen near the crime scene on Tuesday night.

Deputies would also like to speak to a woman who was walking nearby around the time of the shooting and may have seen something.

Local and state law enforcement officers have also been joined by agents from the FBI.

Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper has paid an emotional tribute to the slain official and ordered flags lowered to half-mast at public buildings until the day after his funeral.

Mr Clements is survived by his wife, Lisa, and two daughters, Rachel and Sara.