Fox News went into apology mode Tuesday after an earlier broadcast showed two photos of Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., during a news alert about a registered sex offender who was believed to have killed a student at the University of Utah.

Fox News aired a segment showing footage of police and students on the college campus in its report before showing images of Harris, as shooting suspect Melvin Rowland, 37, as shown in this video clip.

Social media noted the error and posted video of the segment, and the news network re-aired the story 45 minutes later — this time with the correct images of the suspect.

Fox News host Jillian Mele apologized on-air for the mistake.

"Now, in an earlier version of this story we showed you the wrong video," Mele said. "We showed you pictures of Senator Kamala Harris instead of Melvin Rowland's mugshot. We apologize for that error."

Rowland is suspected of killing Lauren McCluskey, an athlete on the University of Utah's track and field team, in a car on campus Monday night.

McCluskey, 21, and Rowland are believed to have dated briefly before she discovered that Rowland had lied about his name, age and criminal history, according to a statement released by the victim's mother. McCluskey had also complained to police that Rowland harassed her after their breakup.

The university went into lockdown after students reported hearing gunshots and McCluskey's body was found near a residential hall. Rowland was seen near a church outside of campus and was pursued by officers, before they found him inside and dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, the Washington Post reported.

Read Dianne de Guzman's latest stories and send her news tips at ddeguzman@sfchronicle.com.

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