Police officer and suspect exchange fire outside Belleville synagogue during Yom Kippur

A 29-year-old man arrived in a truck around 7 p.m. on Sunday and fired a shotgun at a police officer stationed outside the Sons of Jacob Synagogue in Belleville, Ontario, prompting a gunfight that involved as many as 30 shots, according to the province’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU). The suspect, identified by Belleville police as Sean Ward of Quinte West, was hit and suffered life-threatening injuries. Const. Jeff Smith, a 13-year veteran of the Belleville Police Service, was seriously wounded but later stabilized in intensive care.

SIU spokesperson Kristy Denette said nearby vehicles and homes showed bullet holes, though forensic testing had not yet confirmed damage to the synagogue itself. The incident unfolded over a half-block area, and about two dozen worshippers were inside the synagogue at the time. One congregant, Douglas Lobel, described the exchange as lasting two to three minutes.

Belleville Deputy Chief Sheri Meeks said the injured officer faces a long recovery. She noted the impact on the local Jewish community, emphasizing that “antisemitism, hate and violence have no place in our community.” The synagogue cancelled its remaining Yom Kippur services, and police increased patrols around places of worship while stating there is no ongoing public safety threat.

Mayor Neil Ellis said it is too early to determine whether the attack was a hate crime, but the circumstances suggest a possible motive. Prime Minister Mark Carney condemned the shooting on social media, affirming that Jewish people must be able to worship safely and that the federal government will support law-enforcement efforts to hold the perpetrator accountable.

The SIU is investigating the officers’ actions, while Belleville police conduct a parallel criminal investigation into Ward’s motives.