Synagogue shooting in Belleville ruled hate crime; officer shot multiple times
Police confirm the Yom Kippur attack on Sons of Jacob Synagogue was hate-motivated. The shooter yelled antisemitic slurs before firing on a constable outside.
Belleville synagogue attack on Yom Kippur declared hate-motivated crime
Belleville's police chief confirmed Thursday that the shooting outside the Sons of Jacob Synagogue on Sunday evening was a hate-motivated attack targeting the Jewish community, theglobeandmail.com reports. Chief Murray Rodd made the declaration at a press conference attended by Ontario Solicitor-General Michael Kerzner, policing officials, and members of the local Jewish community.
"Make no mistake, this was a targeted attack against the Jewish community," Chief Rodd said.
Approximately 25 worshippers were gathering inside the synagogue to begin Yom Kippur evening prayers when the incident unfolded around 7 p.m. Constable Jeff Smith was stationed in an unmarked vehicle in the parking lot outside.
Shooter opened fire while yelling antisemitic threat
The shooter, identified by authorities as Sean Ward, 29, approached and fired on Constable Smith. Chief Rodd played video footage captured at the scene during the press conference. In it, Ward — standing behind a parked car a few metres from the officer — can be heard yelling "you are going to die for the Jews" before opening fire.
Constable Smith called for backup and a gunfight followed. A second officer, Constable Mike McCurdy, arrived and fired on Ward. Dozens of shots were discharged during the exchange, with approximately 20 rounds passing through the synagogue's front stained-glass window. None of the worshippers inside were injured.
Chief Rodd said the two officers were "the only thing that prevented a greater attack." Ward had come equipped with additional firearms, ammunition, and "the means to carry on a gun battle for a long period of time," Rodd said. Extra gasoline was also found in his vehicle.
"They are both heroes," the Chief said. "Their actions represent the very definition of courage in policing."
Constable Smith shot multiple times, remains in hospital
Constable Smith was "shot multiple times, in multiple places" including the head and remains in hospital with further surgeries ahead of him, according to Chief Rodd. Constable McCurdy was not injured. Ward died in hospital on Monday night.
Chief Rodd said Ward's motives — targeting "specifically and only the Jewish community" — have been "corroborated in documentary and video evidence to date." Investigators are still downloading material from relevant devices and computers but remain "in the early stages of making sense of the rest of all of that," he said. Authorities also confirmed some reconnaissance was carried out by Ward prior to the attack, though nothing that alerted the officer on duty.
Jewish community calls attack a wake-up call for the country
Shima Viggoda, vice-president of Sons of Jacob, stood with tears in his eyes during the press conference. He said the community was drawing strength from one another during a week that would normally be among the most celebrated on the Jewish calendar.
"We find strength in each other, and I also think that we find great strength in our traditions," Viggoda said. "There's strength in knowing we come from a vibrant, purposeful culture, whose values are Canadian values and are inextricably in the fabric of this country."
Norman Weddum, president of the synagogue and one of the worshippers inside when the shooting began, praised police for naming the incident a hate crime. "I was really pleased they designated this a hate crime directed against the Jewish community, because this wasn't targeted against anyone else," he told The Globe and Mail. "It's about time someone official finally said that."
Weddum said the video shown by police left him shaken. "There's no question we'd all be dead. It really gets to you when you think about what could have happened," he said. "I hope this is a wake-up call to the government and the whole country."
Jewish affairs organization urges federal action
Noah Shack, CEO of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, called on federal Justice Minister Sean Fraser to convene provincial and territorial counterparts to establish a co-ordinated response plan.
"Canada is at a precipice — one step closer to the tragedies witnessed in Bondi Beach, Manchester and Boulder — and our leaders must take urgent and concrete actions before it is too late," Shack said in a statement, referencing previous attacks against Jewish communities in Australia, Britain, and the United States.
"Constable Smith and Constable McCurdy stepped forward when it mattered most. Our political leaders must do the same," he added.
Shooter was former Canadian Armed Forces corporal
Ward served in the Canadian Armed Forces from July 2017 until June 2022, when he was released at the rank of corporal. He was a member of the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry regiment and did not deploy overseas during his service. A private named Sean Ward was previously listed as a member of the Edmonton-based 3rd Battalion of the PPCLI, according to the regiment's annual publication.
Ward was released under a category called 5F — an involuntary discharge — after refusing to take the COVID-19 vaccine, according to The Globe and Mail. The Canadian military has not confirmed the precise posting location.
Source: Google News CA — Crime (EN)