Belleville officer shot near synagogue faces 'long, difficult road,' wife says

The wife of Const. Jeff Smith, wounded in a shooting outside a Belleville synagogue on Yom Kippur, has shared a heartfelt plea. The suspect, Sean Ward, 29, died following the incident.

Belleville officer's wife speaks out after synagogue shooting on Yom Kippur

The wife of a Belleville police officer shot during a Yom Kippur service has broken her silence, describing Sunday evening as "the scariest and darkest day" of her family's life, cbc.ca reports.

"My words aren't strong or steady yet, but I knew I needed to find them," Ashley Smith wrote in a Facebook post Tuesday night, verified by CBC News through a family friend. "I needed to use my voice for my dear Jeff, until he is able to use his."

Const. Jeff Smith of the Belleville Police Service had been stationed outside the Sons of Jacob Synagogue in Belleville, Ont., which had requested police protection, when a suspect identified as Sean Ward allegedly opened fire on him with a shotgun shortly after 7 p.m. Sunday. A Yom Kippur service was getting underway inside at the time.

Ward, 29, from nearby Quinte West, died following the incident. Ontario's Special Investigations Unit (SIU) confirmed his death on Tuesday and noted he had gotten as close as half a block to the synagogue.

The SIU — the civilian agency that investigates police conduct during officer-involved shootings and serious incidents in Ontario — is examining what led Smith and a second officer to discharge their weapons. The precise sequence of events before Smith was shot has not yet been established. The Belleville Police Service is separately investigating Ward's motives, SIU spokesperson Kristy Denette said Monday.

Norm Weddum, president of the Sons of Jacob Synagogue, said a street-facing window was left with several bullet holes. Dozens of bullets also damaged nearby homes and vehicles, investigators said.

The synagogue issued a statement Wednesday calling the attack a deliberate act of antisemitism. "This was clearly a targeted attack against Jews gathering together to pray and be in community," the statement read. "Jews must be able to gather, pray and live openly in our communities without fear. We will not allow fear to define our community."

The synagogue also praised Smith. "We will never know what might have happened inside our synagogue had Const. Smith not been there," the statement said, adding that its prayers are with him, his family, his colleagues and everyone supporting his recovery.

In her post, Ashley Smith thanked the "life-saving" and "steady, capable" hands of first responders and hospital staff, singling out "an angel neurosurgeon." She also expressed gratitude to neighbours, friends, community members and volunteers.

"And then there are the hands that held me and my sweet girls when we were living through the scariest and darkest day of our lives," she wrote. "Today, I held Jeff's hand. And I thought about all of those hands."

An online fundraising campaign for Smith and his family, launched by members of Toronto's Jewish community, had raised just under $400,000 at the time of reporting. A separate effort to fund repairs to the synagogue is also underway.

Smith has served with the Belleville Police Service since 2013. Deputy Chief Sheri Meeks described him Monday as "a long-standing and highly respected member of our emergency response unit, known by his colleagues as a dedicated officer, trusted teammate and committed public servant."

Meeks also used the occasion to reflect on the risks carried by officers daily. "The men and women who wear this uniform are not just police officers," she said, her voice cracking. "They are parents, spouses, children, friends and neighbours. Every day they leave their homes and loved ones not knowing what they may encounter. Yet when danger arises, they step forward to protect others."

Yom Kippur is the holiest day of the Jewish year.

With files from Sannah Choi and Kim Drummond.

Source: Google News CA — Crime (EN)