Video – Belleville Police Reveal Synagogue Attack Was Deliberate Hate Crime

‘You are going to die for the Jews’: Chief says gunman had weapons, ammunition and gasoline as officers stopped an attack that could have killed worshippers

What began as a shooting outside a Belleville synagogue on the holiest day of the Jewish calendar has now been described by police as something far more chilling — a deliberate, hate-motivated attack against the Jewish community that investigators say had the potential to become a mass-casualty event.

At a press conference Thursday, Belleville Police Chief Murray Rodd said investigators have confirmed the September 20 attack outside the Sons of Jacob Synagogue was a hate-motivated crime specifically targeting the Jewish community.

And for the first time, police disclosed the words allegedly spoken by the gunman moments before the shooting.

“You are going to die for the Jews.”

Rodd said the statement, along with documentary and video evidence gathered by investigators, corroborates the conclusion that the attack was deliberate and targeted.

“Make no mistake, this was a targeted attack against the Jewish community,” Rodd said.

“The suspect had the means, the motive, and the mechanisms to cause a mass casualty and the destruction of the Jewish synagogue.”

The chief said the consequences of the attack could have extended far beyond the synagogue itself.

“The loss of life and irreversible damage that could have been rippled through our community for generations cannot be overstated.”

Instead, Rodd said, people who had gathered for Yom Kippur were able to return home.

He credited the actions of two Belleville police officers — Constables Jeff Smith and Mike McCurdy — with preventing what he described as an unimaginable tragedy.

“Innocent people had gathered to observe Yom Kippur and because of the actions of the responding officer, they were able to return home safely to their families.”

‘He was shot before he even had the opportunity to exit the vehicle’

The new details about the attack also provide a clearer picture of the extraordinary circumstances faced by Const. Jeff Smith.

Smith was assigned to the synagogue as part of his regular duties, something Belleville Police has done for years to provide security and reassurance to the Jewish community during worship.

Rodd said Smith was ambushed before he had even fully exited his police vehicle.

“What many do not realize is that Constable Smith was shot before he had even had the opportunity to exit the vehicle,” Rodd said.

“Despite suffering life-threatening injuries within moments of encountering the armed suspect, Constable Smith exited his vehicle and engaged the attacker.”

Smith was shot multiple times but remained engaged in the gunfight.

Rodd said Smith suffered injuries to his head and body, including fractures, gunshot wounds and shrapnel injuries.

“He is expected to undergo multiple surgeries related to serious head trauma,” Rodd said.

“While his recovery will be lengthy and challenging, he is making progress every day.”

The chief said Smith’s family remains at his side.

“He has a long road to travel and his family with him.”

Second officer runs toward the gunfire

Approximately two minutes and 47 seconds after the gunfight began, another Belleville officer arrived.

Rodd identified that officer publicly for the first time as Const. Mike McCurdy, saying he was permitted to do so because of restrictions surrounding the Special Investigations Unit investigation.

“Without hesitation, Constable McCurdy joined the active gunfight, helping to bring the violent attack to an end,” Rodd said.

“Together, Constables Smith and McCurdy confronted the active attacker and prevented what would have become an unimaginable tragedy.”

Their actions, he said, were nothing short of courageous.

“Because of their selfless commitment to duty, an extreme incident and an active attacker was stopped before innocent lives were lost.”

Then Rodd delivered his bluntest assessment:

“They are both heroes. They are both heroes.”

Gunman had more weapons and a ‘significant amount’ of ammunition

Questions from reporters revealed just how heavily armed the gunman was.

Rodd confirmed the suspect was armed with a shotgun but said he also had access to other weapons and enough ammunition to continue a prolonged gun battle.

“He was equipped with other weapons and the means to carry on a gun battle for a long period of time.”

The suspect used the shotgun during the exchange with police, but Rodd said other resources were available to him.

“He had other resources available, a significant amount of ammunition on his person and available to him.”

Police also confirmed that gasoline was found in the suspect’s vehicle.

Asked whether there were explosives, Rodd would not characterize all of the material discovered but confirmed combustible material was present.

“It was gasoline. I confirm that was gasoline.”

He said investigators are still trying to determine the potential scale of damage the contents of the vehicle could have caused.

The chief’s description was stark.

“The only thing that stopped entry into the synagogue to execute the intent were the two officers.”

Reconnaissance had taken place

Police also confirmed the suspect had conducted reconnaissance of the synagogue.

Rodd said the gunman had been in the area in the presence of a Belleville police officer before the attack.

“We know that there was a reconnaissance in the presence of our officer, but nothing that would have alarmed him or would have triggered him to be on a defensive.”

The suspect returned on a second pass.

“He was then ambushed on a second pass. That’s when the shooting started.”

The revelation adds another disturbing element to an attack that police now describe as deliberate and premeditated.

Rodd said investigators are continuing to examine the suspect’s movements and electronic devices.

Asked whether a manifesto had been discovered, Rodd said investigators were still working through evidence seized from the suspect’s devices and computers.

“We’re still in the early stages of making sense of the rest of all of that.”

He said downloads from devices and computers remain part of the ongoing investigation.

Asked directly whether a manifesto had been found, police said it was too early to provide details about specific documents or videos.

No warning had been received

Rodd also addressed questions about whether Belleville Police had received intelligence warning of an impending attack.

He said the officer’s presence at the synagogue was not a response to a specific threat.

Rather, it was part of an established relationship between Belleville Police and the Jewish community.

“For an extended period of time, and prior to my arrival here in 2024, we have had a relationship with the Jewish community,” Rodd said.

The service regularly places on-duty officers at Jewish worship services when the community believes additional police presence is appropriate.

“These officers are doing that out of our complement and we do it because it’s the right thing to do.”

There had been general intelligence advisories circulating among police services, Rodd said, but those were not what put Smith at the synagogue that evening.

“We weren’t reacting to that at all. We were just the right place at the right time.”

‘A horrible catastrophe in the making’

Ontario Solicitor General Michael Kerzner, who attended the press conference, described the attack in stark terms.

“A line of decency has been crossed in our province,” Kerzner said.

“A line of decency of having an individual act in such a hateful and anti-Semitic attack is unacceptable.”

Kerzner said he had returned to Belleville for the second time in 48 hours and witnessed what he described as a community coming together.

“I’ve seen a community come together instead of being indifferent,” he said.

“I have seen a police service rise to the occasion like never before.”

Kerzner singled out Rodd, the Belleville Police command team and the officers involved.

He also praised the Jewish community members who witnessed the attack.

He described the synagogue as a place where more than two dozen people had gathered on the eve of Yom Kippur.

“A horrible catastrophe in the making almost fulfilled right here at a beautiful synagogue on a beautiful evening at Victoria and Bleecker,” Kerzner said.

“And thanks to the incredible work of our police service here and specifically Constable Smith and Constable McCurdy, it did not happen.”

“But it could have.”

Kerzner said the potential consequences went beyond the people inside the synagogue.

“Not only the synagogue and everybody in it, but the entire city block could have been gone and a lot of lives could have been lost.”

‘We have to suffocate hate’

Kerzner used the occasion to issue a broader call against antisemitism.

“We have to suffocate hate. We have to suffocate anti-Semitism.”

He said the attack should not be viewed as something affecting only the Jewish community.

“An attack on one is an attack on all.”

Kerzner also recounted a moment that occurred shortly before the press conference.

He said members of a nearby mosque had gone to the synagogue carrying flowers.

“They did not know how to express their words of sorrow, but they wanted to express their words of solidarity.”

He thanked Belleville’s Muslim community for the gesture.

“It was overwhelming.”

Kerzner said the attack should not become normalized.

“We will never normalize anti-Semitism or hate of any kind.”

Cobourg police answer the call

The attack also immediately brought police services from across the region into Belleville, including Cobourg Police.

Cobourg Police Chief Chris Leather said Belleville requested assistance shortly after the shooting.

“Right away Belleville was looking for assistance with the scene security, traffic points and even some assistance with response to some of the radio calls because obviously their members were tied up with the investigation and some of them were quite traumatized by what they had witnessed.”

Cobourg sent officers to Belleville on Monday and Tuesday.

Cobourg’s canine officer also assisted Belleville Police with searches for evidence, including shell casings.

Leather said the incident is a reminder that the threat of a violent attack is not confined to major urban centres.

“It shows you that it can happen anywhere.”

Leather noted that the suspect had a military background and said investigators will likely examine that history as part of their work.

“You heard from Chief Rodd’s remarks that there was even some reconnaissance done by the assailant, the shooter on the day, let alone what was done prior to.”

“Given his training in the military, both with weapons operations and likely reconnaissance, you know very well that’s an angle that the investigation will be looking at in the coming weeks.”

‘This was an exclusive threat to our Jewish community’

Rodd closed the press conference by stressing that investigators have found no indication the suspect was targeting another segment of the population.

“This was an exclusive threat to our Jewish community,” he said.

“There’s no indication there’s a threat to any other population or segment of our community and it was a hate-motivated crime.”

The chief also urged the public to separate verified information from the considerable speculation that has followed the shooting.

“Our responsibility is to ensure the people of Belleville receive information that is factual, accurate, and verified.”

He said police would continue releasing information as investigators determine what can be made public without compromising the investigation.

And while the shooting has left the community shaken, Rodd said the response from Belleville has demonstrated something else.

“While this was a premeditated and targeted act of violence, our community’s response has been one of unity, compassion, and strength.”

“The presence of police and government, faith, and community leaders in this room sends a clear message.”

“Violence and division will not define us.”

The investigation remains ongoing, with the SIU continuing its work and Belleville Police pursuing the criminal investigation.

But after Sunday’s gunfire outside the Sons of Jacob Synagogue, the police chief’s central message was unmistakable: the attack was deliberate, the target was the Jewish community, and two officers stood between an armed attacker and the people inside.