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Special Investigations Unit Probes Belleville Officer Shooting

By Drooid · Sep 21, 2026, 10:02 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Police Shoot Suspect

Belleville police officer Jeff Smith was shot and left critically injured during a gunfight near Sons of Jacob Synagogue.
29-year-old suspect Sean Ward was shot by police and remains in a life-threatening condition.
Over 20 shots hit the synagogue, homes and vehicles, leaving no worshippers injured.
Ontario’s Special Investigations Unit sent investigators to examine police conduct and collect body-camera footage.

Summary

Poilievre Condemns Violence

Two officers returned fire as the suspect opened fire with a shotgun.
Deputy Chief Sheri Meeks said Belleville Police will keep heightened patrols around places of worship.
Toronto Police Service announced extra patrols outside synagogues and other worship sites after the Belleville shooting.
Pierre Poilievre condemned the antisemitic violence and urged the government to act now.
Prime Minister Mark Carney announced a June federal advisory council to combat antisemitism nationwide.

History

Historical Context

In October 2018, Robert Bowers killed 11 worshippers at Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life synagogue, prompting the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force to label the attack domestic terrorism and allocate $1 million for security grants. The tragedy spurred synagogue security upgrades. In June 2024, a gunfight near Belleville’s Sons of Jacob Synagogue wounded officer Jeff Smith and left suspect Sean Ward alive, leading provincial police to increase patrols at houses of worship.

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Police Shoot Suspect

Belleville police officer Jeff Smith was shot and left critically injured during a gunfight near Sons of Jacob Synagogue.
29-year-old suspect Sean Ward was shot by police and remains in a life-threatening condition.
Over 20 shots hit the synagogue, homes and vehicles, leaving no worshippers injured.
Ontario’s Special Investigations Unit sent investigators to examine police conduct and collect body-camera footage.

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