Police confirm Belleville synagogue shooting was 'hate-motivated crime'
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The Sunday night shooting incident in Belleville during one of the most introspective days on the Jewish calendar was motivated by “hate,” police confirmed on Thursday.
“This was an exclusive threat to our Jewish community,” Belleville Police Chief Murray Rodd told reporters on Thursday afternoon. “There was no indication there was a threat to any other population or segment of our community and it was a hate-motivated crime.”
The shooting took place around 7 p.m. outside of the Sons of Jacob Synagogue in Belleville on Yom Kippur, the most solemn day of the year in Judaism. About two dozen congregants were inside the synagogue when the shooting happened, although no worshippers were physically hurt.
Rodd said the gunman, Sean Ward, was spotted by Const. Jeff Smith before the gunfight as the officer was providing security for the synagogue. Smith was there as part of his regular policing duties “because it’s the right thing to do” and Rodd said Ward was known to police, but “nothing of any concern that would have telegraphed this kind of event.
“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 the defensive,” Rodd said. “He was then ambushed on a second pass. That’s when the shooting started.”
‘Long road to recovery’ for officer
Smith was shot “multiple times,” in “multiple places” and is expected to have “multiple surgeries,” Rodd said.
“He still has a long road to recovery,” he said. “He has everything extending from fractures to wounds and is still bearing shrapnel.”
But Rodd said that Smith had made “positive progress in his recovery” less than a week after the shooting.
“While he faces a long road ahead, his determination and resilience continues to inspire all of us,” Rodd said. “He is expected to undergo multiple surgeries related to serious head trauma. While his recovery will be lengthy and challenging, he is making progress every day.”
In an update on the case, the chief said Smith was shot before he had a chance to exit his vehicle and engage with the gunman.
“Since the incident occurred, much has been said about Smith’s courage and rightly so,” Rodd said.
“Despite suffering life-threatening injuries within moments of encountering the armed suspect, Smith exited his vehicle and engaged … He was shot multiple times and stayed engaged.”
GoFundMe nearing $700,000 goal
A GoFundMe page has been set up to help Smith and his family during his recovery. As of Thursday afternoon, it had raised more than $575,000 toward a $700,000 goal.
Rodd also acknowledged the courageous actions of the second officer who confronted the shooter.
“Without hesitation, Const. Mike McCurdy joined the act of gunfight, helping to bring the violent attack to an end,” Rodd said.
“Together, Consts. Smith and McCurdy confronted the active attacker and prevented what would have become an unimaginable tragedy. Their actions represent the very definition of courageous policing. Because of their selfless commitment to duty, an extreme incident and an active attacker was stopped before innocent lives were lost.”
Shooter could have caused ‘mass casualties:’ Cops
The chief also said Ward had enough ammunition and weaponry to inflict mass casualties.
“He had the means and the mechanism and the motive to perpetrate a greater act,” the chief said. “He was equipped with other weapons and the means to carry on a gun battle for a long period of time. He used the shotgun that we have all spoke about and he had other resources available to him, a significant amount of ammunition on his person and available to him.”
Ward was initially found without vital signs at the scene before being revived and rushed to a hospital in life-threatening condition. He died at Kingston General Hospital earlier this week, according to Ontario’s Special Investigations Unit.
— With files from Postmedia News.