Belleville synagogue shooting suspect dies in hospital: SIU

A suspect who allegedly opened fire at a Belleville police officer outside of a synagogue has died, the province’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU) said Tuesday.

Sean Ward, a 29-year-old man from Quinte West, died in hospital Monday night, Kristy Denette, an SIU spokesperson told Global News.

The officer involved, Const. Jeff Smith, remains in hospital in critical but stable condition.

The shooting occurred on Sunday around 7 p.m. when a man armed with a shotgun allegedly opened fire at a police officer stationed outside the Sons of Jacob Synagogue, where people had gathered to observe Yom Kippur, the SIU said.

Witnesses near the scene Sunday evening reported hearing the shots ring out.

View image in full screen

“It sounded like firecrackers,” Ray Carmichael, who has lived in the neighbourhood for more than four decades, told Global News.

“They put shields on the windows there a few years ago, so I imagine they anticipated problems,” he added. “It’s very unfortunate.”

An SIU spokesperson told reporters at the scene that the officer returned fire and another officer also discharged their firearm.

A spokesperson for the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) told Global News that a member named Sean Ward who matches the suspect description was a member of the CAF from July 2017 to June 2022 under the rank of corporal.

Get breaking National news

Get breaking Canada news delivered to your inbox as it happens so you won't miss a trending story.

Sign up for breaking National newsletter Get Started

By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

“He served as an infantry soldier with the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry and did not deploy during his service,” the spokesperson said.

2:29 Gunfire erupts outside Belleville synagogue on holiest day of the year

Military sources tell Global News that Ward was discharged after refusing to get the COVID-19 vaccine, which was originally a requirement that has since been rescinded.

Sources also say he held a broad range of extreme views and conspiracy theories, and that he allegedly blamed Jews for the pandemic.

The Canadian Armed Forces did not respond to Global News’ questions about whether Ward’s extremist views were flagged, beyond his dismissal.

Police have not commented at this time on Ward’s ideology or said whether the synagogue was indeed his intended target of a hate-motivated attack.

David Hofmann, associate professor of sociology at the University of New Brunswick, said radicalization doesn’t happen “in a vacuum.”

“People don’t, again, decide to pick up a gun and shoot up a synagogue out of nowhere,” Hofmann said. “People become radical through interacting with other individuals, working through these ideas, getting spurred on by others and so on.

“This is an individual who, rather than just staying in the chat rooms and staying on Facebook spreading these types of ideas, felt driven enough to actually commit an act of violence.”

Ontario’s Solicitor General travelled to Belleville Tuesday morning to meet with police and the mayor.

A spokesperson for Minister Michael Krezner’s office confirmed to Global News in an email that the Solicitor General met with police and the mayor in the morning and would be speaking with members of the Belleville community later Tuesday afternoon before heading back to Toronto.

In a statement posted to social media Monday night, Krezner called the shooting a “heinous act” and said he is in contact with all levels of government and policing units across the province.

“There is simply no rational explanation or justification for shooting at a house of worship, regardless of the denomination,” he said.

0:41 Carney, Poilievre show support for Jewish community after Ontario synagogue shooting

In a statement posted to social media Monday, president of the Sons of Jacob Synagogue said all services for Yom Kippur day were cancelled.

“We will let you know when services resume,” he said.

Sons of Jacob is the only Synagogue in Belleville, serving the Jewish communities of the Quinte Region.

Sherri Meeks, deputy chief of the Belleville Police Service, said the force has stepped up patrols across the city, including around places of worship.

The Toronto Police Service, York Regional Police, Peel Regional Police and Niagara Regional Police all said they will have increased patrols around places of worship.

—with files from Global News’ Jeff Semple