Synagogue Shooting Suspect Dies

UPDATE Sep 22, 2026 4:18 PM CDT

A 29-year-old man suspected of opening fire on a police officer stationed outside a Canadian synagogue during Yom Kippur has died from his injuries, authorities say. Belleville, Ontario police identified the man as Sean Ward. Ontario's Special Investigations Unit, an independent civilian agency that investigates police shootings, said Ward died Monday night, the AP reports. The Department of National Defense said its records show that a former Canadian Armed Forces member named Sean Ward, who was released in June 2022 at the rank of corporal, matches the description of the shooting suspect. Belleville Police Const. Jeff Smith, who was shot multiple times, was in stable condition Tuesday.

• Police haven't commented on a motive, but SIU spokesperson Kristy Denett agreed with a reporter who said the shooting fits the definition of a terrorist attack, CTV News reports. "I think that common sense would say that probably was the case," she said.

Sep 21, 2026 5:26 PM CDT

A 29-year-old man armed with a shotgun opened fire on a police officer stationed outside an Ontario synagogue on Yom Kippur, triggering a shootout involving as many as 30 shots fired, the province's police watchdog said Monday. The gunfire seriously wounded a veteran of the Belleville Police Service, whose condition had stabilized as he recovered in intensive care, the AP reports. About two dozen people were inside the synagogue when gunfire erupted. Douglas Lobel said it lasted two or three minutes and "seemed like an eternity." The attacker was left with life-threatening injuries.

Kristy Denette, a spokesperson for the Special Investigations Unit, said nearby vehicles and homes were riddled with bullet holes. There was no forensic confirmation Monday as to whether the synagogue itself was hit. The Special Investigations Unit said preliminary evidence showed the man arrived in a truck around 7pm Sunday and fired at an officer outside the Sons of Jacob Synagogue in Belleville, about 110 miles east of Toronto. The officer returned fire before a second officer arrived and also fired. Belleville police Deputy Chief Sheri Meeks identified the suspect as Sean Ward, of the nearby city of Quinte West and the officer as Constable Jeff Smith, a 13-year veteran of the force.

Lobel said a police officer eventually entered the synagogue and asked whether anyone had been hurt. No one inside was injured. "This officer was a hero who saved our lives," Lobel said. "If this officer wasn't there, I don't know what could have happened." Meeks acknowledged the shooting's impact on Belleville's Jewish community, particularly because it happened during Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish calendar. The synagogue canceled its remaining services for Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish calendar, after the shooting. Police increased patrols and their presence around places of worship but said there was no ongoing threat to public safety. Prime Minister Mark Carney condemned the shooting in a social media post, saying, "Jewish people must be able to worship safely."