Belleville synagogue shooter Sean Ward dies in hospital after Yom Kippur attack

Sean Ward, 29, a former Canadian soldier, died Monday night after a shootout with police outside a Belleville synagogue. A police officer remains in ICU.

Former Canadian soldier dies after synagogue shootout on Yom Kippur

Sean Ward, 29, the man who opened fire outside the Sons of Jacob synagogue in Belleville, Ontario, has died in hospital from gunshot wounds, thestar.com reports. The Special Investigations Unit confirmed his death on Tuesday.

"He died last night. His post-mortem will be tomorrow in Kingston," said Kristy Denette, spokesperson for the Special Investigations Unit.

Ward exchanged gunfire with Belleville police on Sunday night — the holiest night of the Jewish calendar — outside the synagogue. Constable Jeff Smith was wounded in the shootout and remains in intensive care, though Belleville police said Tuesday he had progressed well in the preceding 24 hours.

Ontario's solicitor general has described the attack as antisemitic. Bullet holes riddled a truck parked outside the synagogue, and some rounds broke through the building's stained glass windows.

Former infantryman with Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry

Ward's background has raised questions about what drove him to target a place of worship. A photograph of him in military uniform circulated online following the attack, and the Canadian Armed Forces confirmed he was a former member.

"Our records indicate that a former Canadian Armed Forces member named Sean Ward matches the description provided. He joined the CAF in July 2017 and was released in June 2022 at the rank of corporal. He served as an infantry soldier with the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry and did not deploy during his service," said Andrée-Anne Poulin, spokesperson for the Department of National Defence.

Ward approached the synagogue armed with a shotgun on Sunday night and began shooting. Police returned fire — 20 to 30 shots, according to some witnesses. Police have not yet disclosed a suspected motive.

Synagogue president calls for return to normalcy

Norman Weddum, president of Sons of Jacob Synagogue, said he struggled to understand why anyone with no prior connection to the congregation would want to harm them. He said repairing the building would be his immediate priority once investigators had cleared the scene, and that the synagogue was accelerating plans to install security film on its windows and add security cameras.

"We want to get back into having services, and we want to get back running programs, and get back to a normal life and operations," Weddum said. "If anything can ever be normal again, I don't know, but that's our goal."

Solicitor general: officer's bravery prevented a massacre

Solicitor General Michael Kerzner visited Belleville on Tuesday and told reporters that Smith's actions had prevented what could have been a far deadlier outcome.

"People worshipping on the holiest night of the year could have been killed," Kerzner said. "There was a heroic officer that stopped that from happening."

Kerzner confirmed that "an antisemitic attack did happen" and said it ran counter to Canadian values. He called on all levels of government and Canadians broadly to respond firmly to antisemitism and hate-motivated violence, adding that no place of worship should require security measures for congregants to feel safe.

"We must call it out and we must do something about it," he said.

Community vigil and fundraiser for wounded officer

Belleville mayor Neil Ellis said more than 150 community members gathered near city hall Monday evening for a vigil organised on short notice. The synagogue's president was among those present.

"We all need to remember our Jewish community and stand behind them," Ellis told those assembled.

Smith, who has been praised for his bravery, is now receiving treatment at a hospital in Kingston. Ellis said his "recovery is going to be a long time."

Members of Toronto's Jewish community launched an online fundraiser in support of the officer, raising $108,000 of a $130,000 goal. In a message posted alongside the campaign, organisers described it as a way to "express our profound gratitude to Const. Smith and to support him and his family during what may be a long and difficult recovery," adding: "We will not forget what he did outside Sons of Jacob Synagogue."

Source: Google News JM — Kingston