A 29-year-old man was also critically wounded after gunfire erupted near worshippers gathering at the Sons of Jacob Synagogue.
BELLEVILLE, ONTARIO — A police officer was seriously wounded after a man armed with a shotgun opened fire outside an Ontario synagogue as members of the Jewish community gathered for Yom Kippur services, authorities said.
The shooting happened shortly after 7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 20, near the Sons of Jacob Synagogue in Belleville, about 190 kilometers east of Toronto. Ontario’s Special Investigations Unit said preliminary information indicates a 29-year-old man and police officers exchanged gunfire near the synagogue. The man and one officer were struck and taken to a hospital. Authorities said the officer was in critical but stable condition and the man had life-threatening injuries.
Belleville police identified the wounded officer as Constable Jeff Smith, a 13-year veteran of the department, and the man as Sean Ward, 29, of nearby Quinte West. Authorities said Smith was stationed outside the synagogue when Ward arrived in the area with a shotgun. Investigators have not announced a motive or determined publicly whether the synagogue or Jewish worshippers were specifically targeted.
The Special Investigations Unit said Smith returned fire after the man discharged the shotgun. A second Belleville police officer who arrived at the scene also fired a weapon. Officials estimated that 20 to 30 shots were fired during the encounter. Homes and vehicles in the surrounding residential area were struck by gunfire, according to investigators. Authorities have not reported any injuries among people attending services inside the synagogue.
About two dozen worshippers were inside the building when the gunfire began, according to reporting from the scene. Congregants took cover as the shooting unfolded outside. The synagogue later canceled its remaining Yom Kippur services. Police said there was no continuing threat to the public after the shooting, while officers secured the area and investigators examined the scene.
The timing and location of the shooting drew condemnation from Canadian officials and concern from Jewish organizations. Prime Minister Mark Carney said Jewish Canadians must be able to practice their faith safely and openly. Ontario Premier Doug Ford also condemned the violence and said members of the Jewish community had a right to gather and worship without fear.
Authorities have not classified the shooting as an antisemitic attack or announced terrorism-related findings. The circumstances remain under investigation, including why Ward was at the synagogue and whether the location was deliberately targeted. The Special Investigations Unit is examining the actions of the police officers because officers discharged their firearms and a civilian suffered life-threatening injuries.
The SIU, Ontario’s civilian police oversight agency, assigned four investigators and two forensic investigators to the case. Belleville police are conducting a separate investigation into the broader circumstances surrounding the shooting. Security was increased around places of worship in Belleville, and police agencies elsewhere in Ontario also stepped up patrols near synagogues as a precaution.
The shooting occurred as Jewish communities observed Yom Kippur, the holiest day on the Jewish calendar. The holiday is traditionally marked by fasting, prayer and repentance. The violence outside the Belleville congregation added to security concerns surrounding Jewish institutions in Canada, though investigators cautioned that the specific motive in Sunday’s shooting had not been established.
As of Tuesday, investigators had not announced criminal charges or released a final determination about what prompted the confrontation. Smith remained hospitalized after suffering serious injuries, while Ward’s injuries were described as life-threatening. The SIU investigation and the separate police inquiry remained ongoing.
Author note: Last updated September 22, 2026.