Synagogue Shooting was a ‘Premeditated’ Hate Crime, Belleville Police Say

The shooting outside a synagogue in Belleville, Ont., that left the alleged attacker dead and a police officer wounded has been confirmed as a hate crime by the local police force.

Belleville Police Chief Murray Rodd told reporters during a Sept. 24 press conference that the weekend shooting outside the Sons of Jacob synagogue met the provincial policing standards’ definition of a hate-motivated attack.

“Make no mistake, this was a targeted attack against the Jewish community,” he said. “The suspect had the means, the motive, and the mechanisms to cause a mass casualty and the destruction of the Jewish synagogue, the loss of life, and irreversible damage that could have rippled through our community for generations.”

Worshippers had gathered on Sept. 20 at the synagogue to observe Yom Kippur, Judaism’s most sacred holiday, when an armed gunman wielding a shotgun fired at a police officer stationed outside the building just after 7 p.m.

The press conference featured eye-witness footage with audio capturing the suspect’s voice declaring “you are going to die for the Jews” moments before shots were fired.

Rodd said Const. Jeff Smith was shot while sitting in his cruiser outside the synagogue. Despite his injuries, Smith exited his vehicle to return fire and a two-minute and 47-second gunfight ensued.

Rodd said Smith “stayed engaged” despite being shot “multiple times” before Const. Mike McCurdy arrived on scene to help takedown the suspect.

“Together, Constables Smith and McCurdy confronted the active attacker and prevented what would have become an unimaginable tragedy,” the chief said.

The suspect was identified earlier this week as 29-year-old Sean Ward of Quinte West. Quinte West shares a border with the City of Belleville and is roughly two hours east of Toronto.

The Canadian Armed Forces has confirmed that Ward was a former soldier who was discharged in 2022 with the rank of corporal. 

He died at the scene of the shooting but was revived by emergency service personnel, officials said. He died the following day in Kingston General Hospital. 

Const. Smith is in stable condition and continues to improve, Rodd said, but stressed the officer has a long, difficult road to recovery, noting “multiple gunshot wounds” he sustained to his head and body.

The Special Investigations Unit, which investigates police-involved shootings, has confirmed that the shooter shot 20 to 30 rounds and the officers shot multiple rounds as well.

Some of the bullets hit the stained glass windows of the synagogue, forcing more than 25 worshippers inside to take shelter on the floor. Neither McCurdy nor anyone inside the synagogue was hurt.

Rodd described both of his officers as “heroes” and commended the community response to the shooting, which has “been one of unity, compassion, and strength.”

“We stand together, shoulder-to-shoulder, with our Jewish community, and remain committed to ensuring that anti-Semitism and targeted violence have no place in Belleville,” he added.

Rodd told reporters more evidence has been found that will corroborate the hate crime finding “in more detail,” but he did not provide further details on what investigators found.