Kyle Odom is suspected of shooting Pastor Tim Remington, who had led a prayer at a Ted Cruz rally
The man suspected of shooting and seriously wounding an Idaho pastor last weekend was arrested by US Secret Service agents on Tuesday after he allegedly threw items over the fence at the White House, police said.
The suspect in the attack against Pastor Tim Remington, Kyle Odom, was arrested at about 5.30 pm in Washington D.C., "safely and without incident," according to Coeur d'Alene Police Chief Lee White.
Mr White said he was told Mr Odom threw flash drives and other unidentified items over the fence. Hazardous materials and bomb teams were working to identify the other items, he said.
Mr Odom had been the subject of a search. Mr White wasn't certain how Odom, 30, got to Washington but said he had boarded a flight at the Boise Airport sometime on Monday.
Coeur d'Alene Police Chief Lee White addresses the media, with a photo of Kyle Odom in the background.
A former Marine from Coeur d'Alene, Mr Odom is suspected of shooting Mr Remington a day after the pastor led the prayer at a weekend campaign rally for Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz.
Authorities say there's no indication Mr Remington's appearance with the Republican candidate had anything to do with the shooting, as they work to figure out what motivated the attack outside his church in broad daylight.
"However, it does appear that this was a pre-planned attack," Mr White said on Monday. "And I will tell you that some details ... are disturbing."
He did not elaborate.
Meanwhile, several news outlets in Spokane received letters on Tuesday that purported to be from Mr Odom, Coeur d'Alene police Detective Jared Reneau said.
The letters, postmarked Monday, contained references to President Barack Obama, members of Congress, members of the Israeli government, and John Padula, outreach pastor for The Altar Church, where Mr Remington is the senior pastor.
"It was extensive and it was disturbing to us," Mr White said of the manifesto.
• White House security raised after breach and second arrest
Earlier on Tuesday, Mr Padula said the 55-year-old pastor regained consciousness on Monday night in a Coeur d'Alene hospital.
"He's whispering and talking to his family a little bit," Mr Padula said. "He's doing absolutely amazing. He gave me a thumb's up last night when I went in."
Mr Remington, who is married and has four children, has no feeling in his right arm, Mr Padula said.
The shooting victim Pastor Tim Remington had led the prayer at a weekend campaign rally for Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz before the attack. Photo: AP/Pablo Martinez Monsivais
The pastor and his wife have been with The Altar Church for nearly two decades, and they have specialised in the treatment of drug and alcohol addiction, Mr Padula said. The church has extensive programmes, including in-patient rehabilitation, for addicts, Mr Padula said.
Mr Padula was a meth addict for 17 years before going through the church's programme seven years ago, he said.
Police said Mr Odom drove to the Spokane, Washington, area on Interstate 90 after the Sunday afternoon shooting, according to information from traffic cameras. He then turned south before they lost his trail.
Mr Odom had no connection with the church before showing up before services early Sunday morning, Mr Padula said.
The Coeur d'Alene Police Department issued a warrant of attempted first-degree murder for Mr Odom, who has no criminal record but does have a history of mental illness.
Mr White said the suspect was armed when he attended services in the church earlier on Sunday, and that the violence could have been much worse.
Mr Odom served in the Marines from 2006-2010, winning an Iraq Campaign Medal and other awards. He rose to the rank of corporal and later graduated from the University of Idaho with a degree in biochemistry.
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