Gunman who fired on police outside Canada synagogue dies of gunfight wounds

A gunman who was shot by Canadian police after firing on officers outside a synagogue during the Yom Kippur holiday over the weekend has died, an official said Tuesday.

A 29-year-old man carrying a shotgun approached a synagogue in Belleville, a city in southeastern Ontario, on Sunday evening as worshipers gathered to mark the holiest day of the Jewish calendar.

He shot at police, prompting officers guarding the Sons of Jacob congregation to return fire.

0:00 / 0:00

Promoted: Bridges for Peace

The man was hospitalized after the shooting and died on Monday night, said Kristy Dennette, a spokesperson for Ontario’s Special Investigations Unit, which probes shootings involving police.

Dennette told AFP an injured officer remains in stable condition in the hospital.

Get The Times of Israel's Daily Edition by email and never miss our top stories

By signing up, you agree to the terms

At a press conference on Monday, Belleville’s deputy police chief Sheri Meeks identified the shooter as Sean Ward, from the neighboring city of Quinte West, and the injured officer as Constable Jeff Smith.

Police have not confirmed that Belleville’s Jewish community was the target of the attack, but Dennette told reporters that “common sense” would suggest the gunman was trying to attack the synagogue.

Prime Minister Mark Carney and Ontario Premier Doug Ford both condemned the shooting.

Like many Western countries, Canada has seen a rise in reported incidents of antisemitism over the last three years amid criticism of Israel’s response to the October 7, 2023, Hamas terror onslaught.

Sunday’s shooting comes months after Carney warned that Canada was failing its Jewish community amid a surge in antisemitism.

Carney cited shootings at Jewish schools, firebombings of synagogues and attacks on community centers and Jewish-owned businesses. His government announced millions in additional funding to help faith-based institutions pay for security infrastructure, training and personnel.

Synagogues in the Toronto area have also previously been targeted by gunfire. In March, shots damaged the entrances of synagogues in Vaughan and Toronto. No one was injured. Police later arrested three suspects in connection with those shootings.

Help us report truthfully on social media

As a multimedia journalist, my job is to take the quality, fact-based journalism produced by The Times of Israel newsroom and make it accessible across every platform — from Instagram posts to podcasts to short-form videos.

This is how many, especially young people, consume news these days. But misinformation is rampant on social media. Our team at ToI produces accurate, responsible short-form reporting on Israel and the Jewish world. 

If you believe in the importance of factual social media journalism, please consider joining our reader support group, The Times of Israel Community. Your financial support is essential to sustain responsible multimedia reporting.

— Gabriella Jacobs, multimedia journalist

Support our work Support our work Already a member? Sign in to stop seeing this

If you’d like to comment, join
The Times of Israel Community.