BELLEVILLE SYNAGOGUE SHOOTING THE LATEST: Carney says 'Jewish people must be able to worship safely'

· Toronto Sun

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As Yom Kippur was being celebrated on Sunday night, shots were exchanged outside a synagogue in Belleville, Ont., leaving a police officer and the shooting suspect injured. Here’s the latest on the incident:

Wounded police officer hospitalized in stable condition

A Belleville Police officer was hospitalized after shots rang out outside a synagogue in the city’s east end Sunday night.

More than two dozen congregants were gathered inside Sons of Jacob Synagogue to observe Yom Kippur — the most solemn day of the year in Judaism — when bullets struck the stained glass windows of the place of worship.

The officer and the suspect were both taken to Kingston General Hospital after the exchange of gunfire around 7:10 p.m.

“We know one officer was shot but seems to be in stable condition and one shooter in critical condition, from what we understand, but can’t say for sure,” one member of the congregation who wished to remain anonymous told the Toronto Sun .

“They don’t think there were any other shooters.”

Was a ‘heavy rifle’ involved?

A security guard, identified only as Mike, told the Belleville Intelligencer that he heard synagogue members screaming amid the gunfire.

He believed the first shot sounded like it came from a “heavy rifle,” then a second round of smaller arms bullets was met with another set of gunfire, the outlet reported, saying he heard “pop, pop, pop, pop, like this big pop.”

Mike noted that a police officer stationed by the synagogue was likely the cop who intercepted the suspect.

Initial reports suggested there were two suspects, but police narrowed it down to the one shooter after tactical officers swept the building.

Police said in a statement late Sunday that there was “no risk to public safety” after the scene was contained.

The officer is alive and should recover, sources told the Sun , while the suspect is in critical condition.

Neighbours heard the gunfire

Residents in the area of Victoria St. and Bleecker Ave. who heard the gunfire were ordered inside their homes by police, warning that it was an active shooting scene.

One woman, Josie, told the Intelligencer that she was sitting in her living room when she “heard a loud bang,” then a few seconds later, it was like, “bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang.”

She described it as “a shotgun and maybe handgun mixture, nothing automatic… but it was a mix of two different types of weapons, for sure,” estimating she heard about 25 to 30 total shots.

She also filmed a truck, believed to be a late-model Chevy Silverado King Cab, driving off the road and onto the sidewalk.

Another witness, Sheldon, told the outlet he counted out nine shots, followed by another 16.

Sons of Jacob Synagogue shared on social media that there were no injuries to anyone inside the building.

All services scheduled for Yom Kippur have been cancelled, and the congregation will provide an update on when services will resume.

‘Jewish people must be able to worship safely,’ says Carney

As the investigation continues into the gunman’s motive and what led to the shooting, Canada’s leaders are speaking out about the latest horrific act.

Prime Minister Mark Carney acknowledged how the shooting took place on the holiest night of the Jewish calendar.

“Jewish people must be able to worship safely. To live free, open, proud Jewish lives,” he said in a statement on X.

“Canada’s government will do everything in our power to support law enforcement in ensuring that the perpetrator is held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”

He added: “My thoughts are with the injured officer and his family, and the entire Jewish community.”

‘Disgusted’ Premier Ford responds

Premier Doug Ford took to X shortly after the incident.

“I’m disgusted by the shooting that took place outside the Sons of Jacob Synagogue in Belleville earlier this evening as Jewish community members gathered to mark Yom Kippur,” Ford wrote.

“My thoughts are with the Jewish community in Belleville and across Ontario who have every right to gather and worship safely and without fear. I expect that all those responsible are arrested and prosecuted to the full extent of the law.”

“My thoughts are also with the police officer who was shot, along with their family and loved ones. We owe an immense debt of gratitude to this brave officer and to all the first responders who acted so quickly to keep the community safe,” Ford said.

Mayor ‘saddened and disturbed’

Neil Ellis, the mayor of Belleville, sounded shaken and emotional when he spoke to the Sun.

“It’s devastating for us. Things like this just don’t happen in Belleville. I’m at a loss for words,” he said.

He said in a later statement released by the city: “I am deeply saddened and disturbed by tonight’s incident in the east end of Belleville. Violence of this nature has no place in our community. The City of Belleville has zero tolerance for acts of violence motivated by hate. Everyone has the right to feel safe in our community, including when gathering and practicing their faith.”

The mayor praised the Belleville Police Service for its “swift response and continued efforts to keep our community safe.”

He added: “Our thoughts are with Belleville’s Jewish community and all those impacted by tonight’s incident. Our thoughts are also with the injured officer, and we are praying for their recovery. We extend our heartfelt condolences to their family, colleagues and the entire Belleville Police Service during this difficult time.”

—With files from Warren Kinsella

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