Belleville synagogue shooting a ‘hate-motivated attack,’ police say

CRIME Belleville synagogue shooting a ‘hate-motivated attack,’ police say By Rachel Morgan Global News Posted September 24, 2026 2:49 pm 2 min read View image in full screen Police officers walk in front of the Son of Jacob Synagogue in Belleville, Ontario on Monday Sept. 21, 2026. A man armed with a shotgun allegedly opened fire at a police officer stationed outside a synagogue in Belleville, Ont., on Sunday night, triggering a shootout that left him and the officer seriously injured, Ontario's police watchdog said Monday. Ian MacAlpine/The Canadian Press 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 shooter who opened fire at an officer near a Belleville synagogue was engaged in a hate-motivated crime, police say. In an update Thursday afternoon, Belleville police said the act was “deliberate” and targeted the Jewish community “during one of the holiest observances of the year.” The attack happened Sunday evening during celebrations for Yom Kippur. Police allege Sean Ward, a 29-year-old man from Quinte West, opened fire at Const. Jeff Smith who was stationed in front of the synagogue, “as part of his regular duties.” Ontario’s Special Investigations Unit confirmed Tuesday that Ward died in hospital Monday night. Smith remains in hospital in critical but stable condition. 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. “The suspect had the means, the motive, and the mechanisms to cause a mass casualty and the destruction of the Jewish synagogue,” Belleville Police Chief Murray Rodd said Thursday. STORY CONTINUES BELOW ADVERTISEMENT Police played a video recording from the area of the shooting Sunday in which the shooter appears to tell Smith, “You are going to die for the Jews.” Approximately two dozen people were inside the synagogue at the time of the attack. No one inside was injured, police said. “A line of decency of having an individual act in such a hateful and anti-Semitic attack is unacceptable,” Ontario Solicitor General Michael Kerzner said. MORE ON CRIME MORE VIDEOS Ottawa orders Appeal Court to review Saskatchewan sisters’ murder convictions Nova Scotia teacher…