Belleville Old East Hill Shootout: Police Exchange Gunfire With Suspects
New Update: Ontario’s Special Investigations Unit says preliminary evidence indicates the 29-year-old suspect, identified as Sean Ward of Quinte West, arrived near the Sons of Jacob Synagogue around 7 p.m. Sunday and opened fire with a shotgun at an officer stationed outside the synagogue. The officer returned fire before a second officer arrived and also discharged their weapon.
The officer was identified as Const. Jeff Smith, a 13-year veteran of the Belleville Police Service. Smith remains in critical but stable condition, while Ward is in life-threatening condition.
Investigators say as many as 30 shots were fired, with bullet damage reported to nearby homes and vehicles. About two dozen people were inside the synagogue during the shooting, but no one inside was injured.
Police have not established a motive or confirmed that the synagogue or Jewish community was specifically targeted. The shooting happened while the congregation was gathered for Yom Kippur.
Before today…
Gunfire erupted in Belleville’s Old East Hill area Sunday evening as Belleville Police exchanged shots with at least two suspects near the Sons of Jacob Synagogue on Victoria Avenue.
The shooting happened at approximately 7 p.m. on September 20, according to The Intelligencer. The newspaper reported that close to two dozen shots were fired between at least two suspects and Belleville Police.
Police remained at the scene following the exchange, with emergency vehicles and officers blocking portions of the area.
An ambulance later left the scene headed for Belleville General Hospital, although the condition and identity of the person transported were not immediately available in the initial report.
The shooting occurred near the intersection of Victoria Avenue and Bleecker Avenue in Belleville’s east end.
The circumstances that led to the exchange of gunfire were still developing Sunday night. Authorities had not yet publicly released detailed information about the suspects, the number of people injured or whether any arrests had been made.
Police presence remained visible in the area as investigators worked to determine what happened.
Residents should rely on official Belleville Police updates for information about any ongoing restrictions or safety concerns.
The investigation remains ongoing.