BELLEVILLE, Ontario (TNND) — A man accused of opening fire on a police officer outside an Ontario synagogue during Yom Kippur has been identified as a 29-year-old from nearby Quinte West, authorities said Monday.
The shooting outside the Sons of Jacob Synagogue in Belleville, about 110 miles east of Toronto, sparked an exchange involving as many as 30 shots, according to Ontario’s Special Investigations Unit, which investigates police-involved shootings.
Police said Sean Ward arrived in a truck shortly after 7 p.m. Sunday and fired a shotgun at Const. Jeff Smith, a nearly 13-year veteran of the Belleville Police Service who was stationed outside the synagogue. Smith returned fire, and a second officer who arrived at the scene also fired, officials said.
Ward was hospitalized with life-threatening injuries. Smith suffered serious injuries but was stable Monday, Deputy Police Chief Sheri Meeks said during a news conference, adding that he faces a “significant road to recovery.”
Investigators found dozens of bullet holes in nearby homes and vehicles along a stretch of street about half a block from the synagogue, according to SIU spokesperson Kristy Denette. Authorities are reviewing body-camera, police-vehicle and surveillance footage, along with witness accounts, as they work to establish the sequence of events.
Officials provide update on shooting outside Ontario synagogue on Yom Kippur (POOL)
No synagogue congregants were reported injured.
Police have not announced a motive or determined whether the synagogue or Jewish community was specifically targeted. The SIU is examining the officers’ actions, while Belleville police are conducting a separate criminal investigation into Ward’s actions and a possible motive.
“It would have been quite, quite the scene indeed,” Denette said of the gunfire.
The shooting occurred as Jewish congregants marked Yom Kippur, the holiest day on the Jewish calendar. Meeks said police have increased patrols around places of worship but that there was no ongoing threat to public safety.
“Antisemitism, hate and violence have no place in our community,” Meeks said. “Every person deserves to feel safe when attending a place of worship.”
Belleville Mayor Neil Ellis said it was too early to determine whether the shooting was a hate crime, but said the location and timing raised concerns.
Prime Minister Mark Carney condemned the shooting on social media, saying Jewish Canadians must be able to worship safely and “live free, open, proud Jewish lives.” Ontario Premier Doug Ford said Jewish people have “every right to gather and worship safely and without fear.”
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Editor’s note: The Associated Press contributed to this report.