Suspect in Belleville Synagogue Shooting Dies in Hospital After Gunfight With Police
The 29-year-old man was critically wounded during an exchange of gunfire with police outside the Sons of Jacob Synagogue as Jewish worshippers gathered for Yom Kippur.
By: Ebenezer Adugyamfi / Emmanuel Ayiku for GhanaianNewsCanada
September 22, 2026
The man suspected of opening fire on a police officer outside a synagogue in Belleville, Ontario, has died in hospital, according to the province’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU).
The SIU said Tuesday that 29-year-old Sean Ward of Quinte West died Monday night at a hospital in Kingston after suffering gunshot wounds during an exchange of fire with Belleville police.
The shooting occurred at approximately 7 p.m. on Sunday, September 20, near the Sons of Jacob Synagogue at Victoria and Bleecker avenues.
The incident unfolded as members of Belleville’s Jewish community gathered for Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.
Police officer also wounded
A Belleville police officer was also shot during the confrontation.
The officer has been identified as Const. Jeff Smith, a 13-year veteran of the Belleville Police Service. He was initially reported to be in critical but stable condition and has since been described as stable as he begins what police say will be a significant recovery.
The SIU said preliminary information indicates Ward was armed with a shotgun when the exchange of gunfire began.
The officer initially involved returned fire, while another officer who arrived at the scene also discharged their firearm.
The SIU estimated that between 20 and 30 shots were fired. Several nearby vehicles and homes were struck during the gunfire.
Worshippers were inside synagogue
About two dozen people were reportedly inside the synagogue when the shooting occurred.
No worshippers were physically injured, although the incident caused significant concern within the local Jewish community.
The synagogue cancelled its remaining Yom Kippur services following the shooting, while police increased their presence around places of worship as a precaution. Authorities said there was no ongoing threat to the wider public.
Motive remains under investigation
Authorities have not publicly established why the shooting occurred or confirmed that the synagogue or Jewish community was specifically targeted.
The circumstances — including the location and timing of the shooting during Yom Kippur — have nevertheless raised concerns about whether the incident could have been motivated by antisemitism.
Investigators have not yet made that determination.
The SIU is investigating the actions of the police officers because firearms were discharged during the confrontation, while Belleville police are conducting a separate criminal investigation into Ward’s actions and the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
The SIU has assigned four investigators and two forensic investigators to the case and is appealing to anyone who witnessed the incident or has photographs or video from the scene to come forward.
The death of the suspected shooter means the investigation will now continue without the possibility of criminal charges being pursued against him, while authorities work to establish exactly what led to the confrontation and whether the synagogue itself was deliberately targeted.
