Police investigating the shooting of a Jewish man outside a Miami synagogue last month have arrested a suspect after he attempted to claim the weapon used in the attack had been stolen from his vehicle.

Carlints St. Louis, 30, is believed to be the key suspect in an incident last month where a man in a black Chevrolet repeatedly circled a synagogue, Young Israel of Greater Miami.

He then emerged from the car and fired eight shots, some of which hit a congregant seeking to enter the shul. Yosef (Warren) Lipschutz, 69, was hit in the leg multiple times before managing to duck behind a bench.

The Miami Herald reported Mr St Louis's vehicle was spotted by CCTV cameras at the scene of the crime, while mobile phone records placed him nearby at the time the shooting took place.

However, it was an apparent attempt by Mr St Louis to throw the police off the scent that led to his arrest: on Monday, he visited a police station and reported that one of his guns had been stolen from his car. Police then searched the vehicle and found a magazine with ammunition matching the bullets which hit Mr Lipschutz.

The suspect was arrested on Tuesday and charged with attempted felony murder, discharging a weapon from a car and aggravated battery on a person over 65.

Police did not say whether he would also be charged with a hate crime.

Mr Lipschutz is recovering from his injuries.