‘Real-life miracles’: support pours in for officer injured in Belleville shooting

CRIME ‘Real-life miracles’: support pours in for officer injured in Belleville shooting By Rachel Morgan Global News Posted September 23, 2026 11:55 am 3 min read WATCH: Officer, suspect injured in Belleville synagogue shooting: SIU LEAVE A COMMENT SHARE THIS ITEM ON FACEBOOK SHARE THIS ITEM ON X SEND THIS PAGE TO SOMEONE VIA EMAIL SEE MORE SHARING OPTIONS DESCREASE ARTICLE FONT SIZE INCREASE ARTICLE FONT SIZE The wife of the officer injured in a shootout outside an eastern Ontario synagogue is thanking the public for their “outpouring of love and support.” Const. Jeff Smith remains in hospital in critical but stable condition after he was shot in a flurry of bullets discharged outside the Sons of Jacob synagogue in Belleville, Ont. on Sunday. “My words aren’t strong or steady yet, but I knew I needed to find them. I needed to use my voice for my dear Jeff, until he is able to use his,” Smith’s wife wrote in a post on Facebook. “I am witnessing real-life miracles. And so many of them have happened through human hands.” She also extended her condolences to the Jewish community and everyone who was at the synagogue Sunday. “Please know that your love, your prayers and your support have reached us. We are deeply grateful. We love you, we see you, we pray for you,” she said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW ADVERTISEMENT View image in full screen A note thanking the public for their outpouring of support for the officer shot during a shootout in front of a Belleville, Ont. synagogue was posted to Facebook on Sept. 22, 2026. Ashely Smith/Facebook Smith was stationed outside the synagogue during celebrations for Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the year in the Jewish faith. Get daily Montreal news Get daily Montreal news delivered to your inbox so you'll never miss the day's top stories. SIGN UP FOR DAILY MONTREAL NEWSLETTER GET STARTED BY PROVIDING YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS, YOU HAVE READ AND AGREE TO GLOBAL NEWS' TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY. Norm Weddum, president of the Sons of Jacob synagogue, confirmed to Global News in an email that he had requested police to be stationed outside the synagogue following an increase in fears about antisemitic attacks. The alleged gunman, 29-year-old Sean Ward, was also injured in the shootout and died in hospital Monday night. Ontario’s Special Investigations Unit is investigating the incident. A spokesperson for the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) told Global News that a member named Sean Ward, who matches the suspect…