Gunman opens fire outside Ontario synagogue on Yom Kippur; police officer seriously wounded

TORONTO — A 29-year-old man opened fire on a police officer stationed outside an Ontario synagogue at the start of Yom Kippur on Sunday evening, triggering a shootout involving as many as 30 shots, the province’s police watchdog said Monday.

The gunfire left the assailant with life-threatening injuries and seriously wounded a veteran of nearly 13 years with the Belleville Police Service who was recovering in intensive care.

At a press conference on Monday, Belleville’s deputy police chief Sheri Meeks identified the shooter as Sean Ward, 29, from the neighboring city of Quinte West and the injured officer as Constable Jeff Smith.

The province’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU) said preliminary evidence showed the man arrived in a truck around 7 p.m. on Sunday and fired at an officer outside the Sons of Jacob Synagogue in Belleville, about 110 miles east of Toronto. The officer returned fire before a second officer arrived and also fired.

The synagogue’s president, Norman Weddum, told CBC and CTV on Monday that he was ushering people into the sanctuary to begin services when he heard shots ring out. He said the police officer had been stationed outside the building in an unmarked car.

SIU spokesperson Kristy Denette estimated that 20 to 30 shots were fired and said investigators found dozens of bullet holes along the street, with homes and vehicles struck and some vehicle windows shot out. She said it would make sense to believe that the synagogue was deliberately targeted, but stressed that this was speculation.

“It would have been quite, quite the scene indeed,” said Denette. She said the scene appeared to stretch about half a block from the synagogue.

At a press conference, a reporter asked Denette if the incident could be considered a “terrorist attack aimed at the Jewish community.”

She responded that “common sense would say that probably was the case,” but that her department’s investigation was limited to the exchange of fire and that the Belleville police were looking at motive.

In a statement she made at the press conference, Meeks characterized it as a hate crime aimed at the Jewish community.

“We recognize the concern and uncertainty many may be feeling, particularly given that this occurred near the Sons of Jacob synagogue during one of the holiest days in the Jewish faith. Let me be very clear: Antisemitism, hate and violence have no place in our community,” Meeks said.

“Every person deserves to feel safe when attending a place of worship, gathering with loved ones or participating in community life,” she stated.

There are increased patrols and heightened police presence throughout the city, including houses of worship, Meeks added.

A number of Canadian politicians spoke out on X against the attack, including opposition leader Pierre Poilievre and Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow.

‘I think his intentions were pretty clear’

Police have not officially said what led to the shooting or whether the synagogue or Jewish community was targeted. They asked people to avoid the area while officers investigated.

The synagogue, a Conservative congregation, posted on social media that an incident had occurred during Yom Kippur services on Sunday evening. “There were no injuries of anyone inside the building,” it said. It added that “as a result all services scheduled for Yom Kippur day are canceled.”

“We had a police officer stationed; he was at the side of the building in the parking lot,” synagogue president Weddum said. “And because he was in an unmarked vehicle, I believe that’s why the gunman did not see him right away.”

“We heard the first shots. It was boom, boom, boom,” Weddum said. “I could say, ‘Oh, this is definitely … someone is shooting here,'” he said. “So that’s when we ran back into the auditorium of the synagogue, closed the doors behind us so as to not leave a visible target, and we hit the floor.”

“Literally everyone went down,” he added. “I yelled for everyone to get on to the floor and the shots continued for a few more seconds, and then it was basically over.”

Weddum indicated he had no doubt that the gunman was intending to attack the synagogue and its congregants: “He was coming down the street with some type of a firearm, and he was headed toward the synagogue where Jewish people were having service. So, I think his intentions were pretty clear.”

The local mayor, Neil Ellis, said there were about 25 people inside the synagogue when the incident occurred.

I’m disgusted by the shooting that took place outside the Sons of Jacob Synagogue in Belleville earlier this evening as Jewish community members gathered to mark Yom Kippur.

Advertisement

My thoughts are with the Jewish community in Belleville and across Ontario, who have every right to…

— Doug Ford (@fordnation) September 21, 2026

Ontario premier ‘disgusted’

Ontario Premier Doug Ford said the shooting took place outside the synagogue as people gathered for Yom Kippur.

“I’m disgusted by the shooting that took place outside the Sons of Jacob Synagogue in Belleville earlier this evening as Jewish community members gathered to mark Yom Kippur,” Ford said in a post on social media.

Ford said Jewish people “have every right to gather and worship safely and without fear” and called for those responsible to be arrested and prosecuted.

“My thoughts are also with the police officer who was shot, along with their family and loved ones,” Ford said.

York Regional Police said there was no known threat in the region but residents should expect increased patrols at places of worship.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney condemned the shooting, writing Monday on X, “Last night, on the holiest night of the Jewish calendar, a shooting took place outside the Sons of Jacob Synagogue in Belleville.”

“Jewish people must be able to worship safely. To live free, open, proud Jewish lives,” he said. “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.”

Sunday’s shooting comes months after Carney warned that Canada was failing its Jewish community amid a surge in antisemitism.

Carney cited shootings at Jewish schools, firebombings of synagogues and attacks on community centers and Jewish-owned businesses. His government announced millions in additional funding to help faith-based institutions pay for security infrastructure, training and personnel.

Synagogues in the Toronto area have also previously been targeted by gunfire. In March, shots damaged the entrances of synagogues in Vaughan and Toronto. No one was injured. Police later arrested three suspects in connection with those shootings.