UPDATE: US Homeless Shootings: Suspect Arrested

Police in the US have arrested a man suspected of killing two homeless men and wounding three others over the last fortnight.

The suspect was arrested in Washington DC, where some of the attacks took place, with others occurring in New York City.

One of the victims was found on fire in a tent in DC, while another was found dead in a sleeping bag in New York.

Police said ballistics evidence linked the incidents to a single firearm and that a sole suspect was being sought.

They also shared one clear image of his face from what appeared to be an ATM terminal.

In a Twitter post, the department said:

"Early this AM (March 15), law enforcement arrested the suspect in Washington, DC.

"He is currently being interviewed at our Homicide Branch. Additional information will be forthcoming. Thanks to the community for all your tips," they added.

They said he was stopped and arrested at 3am on Tuesday on the 2700 block of Pennsylvania Avenue Southeast in the city, near to where the city's police department is based.

The arrest follows the mayors of New York City and Washington DC holding a joint press conference on Monday for help finding the gunman.

The attacks have happened in less than a fortnight in New York City and Washington DC, and on Monday officials urged anyone who recognises the suspect to come forward.

Speaking directly to the suspect at a news conference, Washington police chief Robert J Contee told him:

"Our reach is far and wide, and we're coming for you."

Homeless people in New York should seek refuge, said the city's mayor Eric Adams. He said teams would be out encouraging rough sleepers to go to city-owned shelters.

Flyers showing the suspect are also being handed out in Washington.

Police linked the attacks at the weekend after a Washington homicide captain saw pictures from New York on social media and noted a similarity to their own suspect.

Chief Contee said without that link "it could have been months" before the cases were connected.

Forensic evidence has linked the man to all the shootings.

The first-known attack happened about 4am on 3 March when a man was shot and wounded in the northeast of Washington.

Five days later another man was hurt in an early-hours shooting.

Police and firefighters were then called after a dead man was found in a burning tent on 9 March. A post-mortem found he died from multiple knife and gunshot wounds.

The killer then travelled to New York City, say police.

On Saturday, at 4.30am, a 38-year-old sleeping on the street was shot in his arm near the entrance to the Holland tunnel.

The suspect fled after the victim screamed, but just 90 minutes later a man was shot dead on Lafayette Street in Lower Manhattan.

CCTV showed him kicking the man before shooting at point-blank range.

"He looked around. He made sure no one was there. And he intentionally took the life of an innocent person," New York's mayor Adams told reporters.