Updated September 21, 2026 @ 12:18pm
An exchange of gunfire near a synagogue in Belleville, Ont., left a police officer and a man seriously injured on Sunday night, Ontario's police watchdog said as it investigates the shooting.
The Special Investigations Unit said the gunfire exchange involved a Belleville police officer and a 29-year-old man who was armed with a shotgun.
The shooting took place near the Sons of Jacob synagogue in the area of Bleecker and Victoria avenues shortly after 7 p.m., at the start of Yom Kippur.
The police watchdog said the man was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries and the police officer was in hospital in critical but stable condition. The SIU is expected to provide an update on the case later Monday.
Douglas Lobel, who was inside the synagogue during the gunfire exchange, said it "seemed like an eternity."
"It probably went on for about two, maybe three minutes at the most and after that, the shooting stopped, so we just kind of stayed in the building, waiting for some type of instructions," he said.
Lobel said at some point a police officer came into the lobby and shouted: "Is anybody hurt?"
No one was injured and the group of about two dozen people inside the synagogue was told to stay put while police tended to the injured officer, Lobel said.
"This officer was a hero who saved our lives," he said. "If this officer wasn't there, I don't know what could have happened."
Lobel said the congregants remained in the synagogue and prayed until they were eventually escorted out of the building and into a city bus that took them to a police station.
Sons of Jacob synagogue president Norman Weddum said in a statement to community members on social media that all services scheduled for Yom Kippur would be cancelled.
On X, Prime Minister Mark Carney wrote: "Canada’s government will do everything in our power to support law enforcement in ensuring that the perpetrator is held accountable to the fullest extent of the law."
Premier Doug Ford said in a post on X that he was "disgusted by the shooting" that took place as members of the Jewish community were gathered to mark the holy day.
"My thoughts are with the Jewish community in Belleville and across Ontario, who have every right to gather and worship safely and without fear," he wrote.
The shooting also drew condemnation from other federal leaders and ministers.
"Jewish Canadians must once again be able to live in their communities and pray in their places of worship without fear of being shot at or attacked," Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre wrote in a post on X.
Federal Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree said he is "outraged."
"Jewish communities must be able to feel safe in Canada," he wrote in a social media post. "I’m thinking of the officer who was injured while responding, and wishing him a speedy recovery."
Toronto police said that while there's no known threat to local synagogues, they are increasing patrols out of an abundance of caution. Police forces in Ontario's York Region and in Winnipeg have issued similar statements.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 21, 2026.
