Police say shooter at Belleville synagogue had means for mass-casualty attack

During a Yom Kippur service at the Sons of Jacob Synagogue in Belleville, a gunman shouted anti-Jewish threats and opened fire outside the building. Const. Jeff Smith, on routine patrol, was shot several times in the head and torso, sustaining serious injuries that will require multiple surgeries.

After a three-minute gap, Const. Michael McCurdy entered the scene, confronting the shooter and preventing entry into the sanctuary. The attacker, identified as 29-year-old Sean Ward of Quinte West, was also wounded and later died in hospital; police say he carried a shotgun, extensive ammunition and flammable material, suggesting he could have carried out a larger massacre.

Belleville Police Chief Murray Rodd called the incident a hate-motivated crime and highlighted the narrow escape from a potential tragedy. Community leaders praised the officers' actions but warned that more protection is needed for Jewish institutions.