By: Ebenezer Adugyamfi / Emmanuel Ayiku for GhanaianNewsCanada
21 September 2026
Ontario’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU) has launched an investigation into an exchange of gunfire near a synagogue in Belleville, Ontario, that left a police officer and a 29-year-old man with gunshot wounds.
The incident happened at approximately 7 p.m. on Sunday, September 20, near the Sons of Jacob Synagogue at the intersection of Victoria and Bleecker avenues.
According to the SIU, a Belleville Police Service officer was in the area when an exchange of gunfire occurred involving a man armed with a rifle.
Both the officer and the man were shot and transported to hospital for treatment.
The SIU said the officer was in critical but stable condition, while the 29-year-old man was in life-threatening condition.
Shooting happened during Yom Kippur
The incident occurred as members of the Jewish community were observing Yom Kippur, one of the most important religious observances in Judaism.
The shooting prompted concern because of its proximity to the synagogue and the timing of the incident.
However, authorities have not established a motive or confirmed that the synagogue or members of the Jewish community were specifically targeted.
The circumstances surrounding the exchange of gunfire remain under investigation.
SIU takes over investigation
The SIU is an independent civilian agency responsible for investigating incidents involving police officers in Ontario where people are seriously injured, killed or shot at.
Four investigators and two forensic investigators have been assigned to examine the Belleville incident.
Investigators are expected to examine the circumstances leading up to the shooting, the actions of the police officer and the armed man, as well as physical and video evidence from the scene.
The SIU has appealed to members of the public who may have witnessed the incident or captured photographs or video to contact investigators.
Police increase presence around places of worship
Following the shooting, police services in other Canadian communities also announced precautionary measures around places of worship.
In Winnipeg, police said they were increasing their presence around religious sites following the Belleville incident.
Authorities have stressed that the investigation into the Belleville shooting is ongoing.
The SIU has not yet released a detailed account of what led to the exchange of gunfire or determined whether any criminal charges will result from the incident.
Further details are expected as investigators continue their work.
