The possibility that Sunday’s shooting outside the Sons of Jacob Synagogue was a terrorist attack targeting the Jewish community is now part of the questions surrounding the investigation.
More than a dozen gunshots — possibly as many as 30 — were fired during the incident Sunday evening as members of the Jewish community gathered for Yom Kippur, the holiest day in Judaism.
A Belleville Police officer was seriously wounded and 29-year-old Sean Ward from Quinte West suffered life-threatening injuries in an exchange of gunfire near the synagogue.
The province’s Special Investigations Unit is investigating the actions of the police officers involved.
During a media briefing Monday, SIU spokesperson Kristy Denette was asked directly whether there was evidence suggesting the shooting was a terrorist attack aimed at the Jewish community.
Denette cautioned that it would be speculation at this stage.
“I mean, I’d be speculating,” she said.
“But I mean, I think that common sense would say that probably was the case.”
Denette immediately stressed that the SIU’s mandate is limited.
The SIU is investigating the actions of police officers who discharged their firearms and injured the man. A separate criminal investigation by Belleville Police is examining the broader circumstances, including motive and possible charges.
That distinction is important because no authority has formally declared the shooting a terrorist attack, and investigators have not publicly established the motive.
But the circumstances have raised serious questions.
The shooting occurred near the Sons of Jacob Synagogue while Yom Kippur services were being prepared to begin.
And according to a security guard who was inside the synagogue, bullets came through the sanctuary windows at approximately chest height.
‘Holy, this is real’
Mike, a 72-year-old security guard who lives only two houses from the synagogue, was working security Sunday night.
He said everything appeared normal.
People were talking and preparing for the service. Worshippers had not yet entered the sanctuary.
Then the gunfire began.
“All of a sudden it was just a surprise and they were loud,” Mike said.
Initially, he and synagogue president Norman Weddum thought the shots were coming from the roof.
Weddum quickly ordered people into the larger room.
“Everybody get in the big room. Get down. Get covered,” Mike recalled.
People scrambled for cover as the gunfire continued.
Mike said he could distinguish when the police officer began firing.
“One was just a pop, the other one was just a boom boom boom,” he said.
Then he saw evidence of how close the danger had come.
“I get in the big room and I see the bullets coming through the window and I think, ‘Holy, this is real.’”
Mike said the bullets were coming through the sanctuary windows at approximately chest height.
Nobody was inside the sanctuary at the time.
Had worshippers already been there, Mike believes people could have been struck.
‘This bastard is going to kill’
The security guard said the reality of the situation became even more frightening as he realized the gunfire was directed toward the synagogue area.
“This bastard is going to kill. He wants to kill us,” Mike recalled thinking.
Asked whether he believed the shooting was terrorism, Mike answered immediately.
“Oh yeah,” he said.
Mike said he believes the synagogue was intentionally targeted.
“Why would we shoot through the stained-glass windows in the sanctuary, right?” he said.
“At breast chest level, you know. With people in there.”
Mike’s comments are his personal assessment and are not an official finding by investigators.
The SIU has said it does not yet have forensic confirmation regarding the synagogue windows or how close the shooter was to the building.
Denette said there were dozens of bullet holes in the area, with some homes and vehicles also struck.
She estimated there may have been 20 to 30 gunshots.
Police officer ‘saved our lives’
Mike believes the police officer stationed outside the synagogue prevented the situation from becoming much worse.
“He’s a hero,” Mike said.
“He saved our lives.”
According to the SIU’s preliminary information, the 29-year-old man arrived in a truck armed with a shotgun and discharged his firearm at a police officer.
The officer returned fire.
A second officer subsequently arrived and also discharged their firearm.
The SIU is still obtaining and reviewing body-worn camera and in-car camera footage and cautioned that the exact sequence of events has not yet been established.
Belleville Deputy Chief Sheri Meeks confirmed Monday that the injured officer is Constable Jeff Smith.
Smith joined the Belleville Police Service in December 2013 and is a member of the emergency response unit.
Meeks said Smith suffered serious injuries but is now recovering in the intensive care unit and his condition has stabilized.
“We remain hopeful and encouraged by his progress,” Meeks said.
Jewish community on alert
Meeks also directly addressed the impact of the shooting on Belleville’s Jewish community.
“I also want to acknowledge the significant impact this incident has had on Belleville’s Jewish community,” she said.
“We recognize the concern and uncertainty many may be feeling, particularly given that this occurred near the Sons of Jacob synagogue during one of the holiest days in the Jewish faith.”
Meeks said police have increased patrols and are maintaining a heightened presence throughout Belleville, including around places of worship.
“Anti-semitism, hate, and violence have no place in our community,” she said.
“Every person deserves to feel safe when attending a place of worship, gathering with loved ones, or participating in community life.”
Police said there is no ongoing threat to public safety.
‘We didn’t know it was over’
Inside the synagogue, the congregation remained in lockdown even after the shooting stopped.
Mike said nobody knew whether there could be another shooter.
Eventually, an officer entered the building and told everyone to remain inside.
“He started telling us, you know, there’s a lot going on right now. It’s not safe out there, so stay in this room while we check for another shooter,” Mike said.
The congregation remained there for approximately an hour before being allowed to leave.
Police arranged a bus to transport people from the area.
Mike walked home because he lives nearby.
He said there were adults, seniors and three or four children among those inside.
A suspicious vehicle one week earlier
Mike also described an incident from the previous weekend that he says has stayed in his mind.
He noticed an unfamiliar man sitting inside an SUV near the synagogue during a previous service.
Mike said the man remained there for almost two hours.
Eventually, he approached the vehicle and asked the man what he was doing.
The man rolled down the rear window and pointed toward a phone on the dashboard but, according to Mike, did not otherwise explain why he was there.
Mike told him, “You’re making everybody nervous here. It’s a synagogue, you know what I mean?”
The man eventually drove away.
Mike said he does not know whether the man had any connection to Sunday’s shooting.
There is currently no public evidence establishing a connection between the two incidents.
Investigation could take days
The scene remains extensive.
Denette said investigators are dealing with multiple firearms, numerous cartridge cases and several vehicles with gunshot damage.
She said forensic investigators expect the scene could take a couple of days to process.
The SIU has four investigators and two forensic investigators assigned to its investigation.
Denette emphasized that the SIU is not investigating the shooter’s motive.
“Our mandate is kind of more focused on that,” she said, referring to the actions of the police officers.
“There is a parallel criminal investigation going on with the Belleville police. So they’ll be looking at motive, that kind of thing, and any charges against the individual who did this.”
For now, the central question remains unanswered:
Was the synagogue deliberately targeted because it was a Jewish place of worship on Yom Kippur?
The circumstances have prompted that question, and the SIU spokesperson acknowledged the possibility, but investigators have not yet formally classified the shooting as terrorism.
For the people who were inside the synagogue, the distinction does little to diminish the fear of what might have happened.
Mike believes the police officer’s presence made the difference.
“If he hadn’t been out there, there would have been no one to intercept the guy,” he said.
“I wouldn’t be talking to you right now.”
The investigation continues.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
