Ontario Synagogue Shooting During Yom Kippur Leaves One Officer and Shooter Injured

A 29-year-old man armed with a shotgun opened fire on a police officer stationed outside a synagogue in Ontario during Yom Kippur. This led to a shootout involving up to 30 shots, according to the province’s police watchdog. As a result, the alleged shooter sustained life-threatening injuries, while a veteran police officer from the Belleville Police Service was seriously injured. The officer’s condition has stabilized as he remains in intensive care.

Kristy Denette, spokeswoman for the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), reported that vehicles and homes nearby bore bullet holes. It was unclear if the synagogue itself was struck by gunfire. The incident spanned roughly half a block from the Sons of Jacob Synagogue.

“It would have been quite, quite the scene indeed,” Denette remarked.

Preliminary evidence indicated the man, identified as Sean Ward from Quinte West, arrived in a truck around 7 p.m. on Sunday. He reportedly fired at an officer outside the Sons of Jacob Synagogue in Belleville, 110 miles east of Toronto. The officer returned fire before a second officer joined.

Damage from gunfire was evident on a truck window at the scene, as captured in a photograph by Patrick Doyle from Reuters. Belleville police Deputy Chief Sheri Meeks confirmed the identities of the shooter and the officer, Const. Jeff Smith, a 13-year veteran.

Approximately two dozen people were present in the synagogue when the shooting began. Douglas Lobel, one of the attendees, described the intense two or three-minute ordeal.

A police officer eventually reassured those inside that no one had been injured. Lobel praised the officer’s efforts, saying, “This officer was a hero who saved our lives. If this officer wasn’t there, I don’t know what could have happened.”

The motive behind the shooting remains unclear, and it is not yet determined if the Jewish community or the synagogue was intentionally targeted. The SIU is investigating the officers’ conduct, while Belleville police are separately examining the shooter’s actions and potential motives.

Meeks described the officer’s recovery path as challenging and acknowledged the shooting’s significant impact on Belleville’s Jewish community, especially considering its timing during Yom Kippur.

“Antisemitism, hate, and violence have no place in our community,” Meeks stated. “Every person deserves to feel safe when attending a place of worship.”

Subsequent Yom Kippur services were canceled at the synagogue. Police have increased patrols around places of worship in response to the incident but clarified there is no ongoing threat to public safety.

Belleville Mayor Neil Ellis noted the timing and location of the shooting might suggest a hate crime. “We have a tight-knit Jewish community. We don’t tolerate this in our city or across the country,” Ellis said. “Everyone has the right to feel safe.”

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney condemned the incident, emphasizing the need for Jewish people to worship safely and live open Jewish lives. Carney assured that the federal government would aid law enforcement in holding the perpetrator accountable.

This shooting follows Carney’s previous warnings about rising antisemitism in Canada, including incidents like synagogue firebombings and attacks on Jewish-operated businesses.

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