The attack took place on Sunday evening around 7:00 p.m., as dozens of members of Belleville's Jewish community had gathered for Yom Kippur davening. Suddenly, gunfire erupted, lasting according to eyewitnesses "at least two to three minutes." According to testimony, dozens of rounds were fired, penetrating the shul's interior through the windows.
Beit Yaakov president Norm Wadom described the moments of terror: "We started bringing people into the shul and then we heard the first shots. It was boom, boom, boom, boom. And then it happened again. A few of us went out to the lobby, and there the shooting continued and it was very clear. I yelled to everyone to get down on the floor, and we locked the doors to the sanctuary."
"There were many more shots after that, and at that point there were also shots through the stained-glass window in the building," Wadom detailed. "There are currently about 20 bullet holes in the windows." According to him, the shooting was not random: "He was aiming at Jews in the synagogue. That's what it means. You don't walk down Victoria Street on a Sunday stroll with a rifle. The shooting wasn't near the shul, he aimed at the shul and we have the bullet holes in the windows to prove it."
Officer Smith was struck by a bullet while still inside his patrol car, but despite his severe and life-threatening injuries, he exited his vehicle within seconds and returned fire at the attacker. He continued to engage him in close-quarters gunfire even after being hit several more times.
About three minutes after the exchange of fire began, Officer Mike McCarty arrived at the scene and joined his colleague in neutralizing the attacker. The police chief praised both men and noted that their actions reflect the precise definition of brave and fearless policing, which prevented an extremist attack before the lives of the worshippers could be taken.
Attacker Sean Ward was critically wounded during the exchange of fire and later died at the hospital. In a search of his truck, police discovered containers filled with gasoline, additional combat equipment, and large quantities of ammunition that would have enabled him to conduct a prolonged firefight. Investigators noted that additional evidence was found confirming his intentions, and that it became clear he had conducted a preliminary reconnaissance of the synagogue area before opening fire.
It was revealed that Ward, 29, was a former soldier in the Canadian military. According to the Canadian Department of Defense, he enlisted in the army in July 2017, served in the infantry, and reached the rank of corporal. He was discharged from the military in June 2022 and did not participate in any overseas military mission during his service.
According to military sources who spoke with Global News, the discharge came after Ward refused to be vaccinated against the coronavirus. Those sources, who requested anonymity, said that during his military service he voiced a variety of conspiracy theories regarding the pandemic, and among other things spread antisemitic claims blaming Jews for the spread of COVID-19.
Leaders of Canada's Jewish community reacted with great shock to the findings and expressed deep appreciation for the officers' actions. CEO of the Jewish Federations of Canada, Steven Shulman, stated that without the officers' rapid response the incident would have ended in a mass slaughter, and emphasized that such a reality cannot exist in the country.
At the same time, representatives of the organizations called on the government to take responsibility and immediately increase security arrangements around Jewish institutions, including legislative amendments that would allow the placement of armed security guards, in order to ensure the safety of citizens in the face of the rising wave of antisemitism.
