Gunman opens fire at Ontario synagogue on Yom Kippur, officer critically wounded

A gunman attacked the Sons of Jacob synagogue in Belleville, Ontario on Yom Kippur, wounding a police officer. The suspect, Sean Ward, later died of his injuries.

Shooting at Belleville synagogue on Judaism's holiest day draws Catholic solidarity

A gunman opened fire outside the Sons of Jacob synagogue in Belleville, Ontario, on the evening of Sept. 20 — Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish calendar — wounding a police officer who had been stationed there to protect worshippers inside, osvnews.com reports.

The Belleville Police Service identified the suspect as Sean Ward, 29, of Quinte West. Ward is alleged to have fired a shotgun at the officer, identified as Smith, who returned fire. Ward sustained life-threatening injuries and was taken to hospital, where he later died. Multiple shots pierced a synagogue window, but no congregation members were hurt and Ward never entered the building.

Belleville police confirmed the identities of both men at a Sept. 21 news conference. Smith, a member of the Belleville Police Service since 2013, was admitted to Belleville General Hospital's intensive care unit in critical but stable condition as of Sept. 23.

Catholic leaders respond

The day after the shooting, Father Luis Melo, director of the Archdiocese of Toronto's Office for Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations, wrote to The Catholic Register, Canada's national Catholic newspaper.

"We stand in solidarity with our Jewish brothers and sisters following the shooting outside the Sons of Jacob Synagogue on Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish year. Our prayers are with the Jewish community, especially those directly affected by this act of violence. All people must be free to worship in safety and peace," Melo said.

Karen Shannon, director of communications for the Archdiocese of Kingston, said Father Rod MacNeil led the congregation at St. Joseph Church — just a few blocks from the synagogue — in prayer during morning Mass on Sept. 21, for the Sons of Jacob community and all those affected by "this devastating and horrific situation."

Security measures already in place

According to Belleville Deputy Police Chief Sheri Meeks and Kristy Denette, a spokesperson for Ontario's Special Investigations Unit, the officer had been posted outside the synagogue before services began — a security measure that synagogues across the province have been implementing.

Toronto Police Services had also increased its presence across the city during Rosh Hashanah, observed Sept. 11 to 13, and again on Yom Kippur, Sept. 20 and 21. The Durham Regional Police Service, York Regional Police, Barrie Police Services and the Ottawa Police Service confirmed similar deployments.

Toronto police have made 573 arrests and filed 1,398 charges in connection with demonstrations, protests and hate-motivated offences targeting the Jewish community since the Hamas attacks on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023 — a period during which hate-motivated incidents against Jewish communities in Toronto and elsewhere have risen sharply.

Condemnation from federal and provincial leaders

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney posted a statement on X condemning the attack. "Jewish people must be able to worship safely. To live free, open, proud Jewish lives. Canada's government will do everything in our power to support law enforcement in ensuring that the perpetrator is held accountable to the fullest extent of the law. My thoughts are with the injured officer and his family, and the entire Jewish community," Carney wrote.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford said he was "disgusted" by the shooting and expressed solidarity with the Jewish community in Belleville and across the province, "who have every right to gather and worship safely and without fear." Ford added: "I expect that all those responsible are arrested and prosecuted to the full extent of the law. My thoughts are also with the police officer who was shot, along with their family and loved ones."

This story was originally published by The Catholic Register and distributed through a partnership with OSV News.

Source: Google News CA — Crime (EN)