The shooter who targeted a Belleville, Ont., synagogue shouted "you're going to die for the Jews" before he opened fire on a police officer stationed outside, the police chief says.
Chief Murray Rodd says Sunday's shooting was a hate-motivated attack targeting the Jewish community, in the service's first comments about the attacker's alleged motive.
Officials say a former soldier armed with a shotgun opened fire on Const. Jeff Smith, who was stationed outside the Sons of Jacob synagogue as those inside marked the start of Yom Kippur.
The suspect, 29-year-old Sean Ward, was fatally injured in the police shootout and Smith was taken to hospital in critical but stable condition.
None of the roughly two dozen people inside the synagogue were injured.
At a news conference today, Rodd also shared video of the attack.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 24, 2026.
