BELLEVILLE, Ont. – Ontario’s police watchdog, the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), has launched an investigation into a violent shooting that left two people, including a police officer, hospitalized on Sunday evening.
The incident unfolded at approximately 7:10 p.m. near the Sons of Jacob synagogue at the intersection of Bleecker and Victoria Avenues. According to the SIU, an exchange of gunfire occurred between a responding police officer and an unidentified male. Both individuals sustained gunshot wounds during the encounter and were transported to a local hospital for emergency treatment. Authorities confirmed that the man involved in the exchange remains in life-threatening condition.
While the investigation remains in its early stages, detectives stated that it is currently unclear if the synagogue was specifically targeted. Despite the violent nature of the confrontation, officials emphasized that there is no active threat to the public.
The scene outside the house of worship left many in the community shaken. Photos shared on social media by former area MP Ryan Williams show extensive damage to the synagogue’s facade, with more than a dozen bullet holes clearly visible in the stained-glass windows. Williams, who shared the images online, noted that worshippers had been gathered inside the building to observe the holy day of Yom Kippur when the gunfire erupted. He praised the responding officer as a “hero” for their actions during the volatile situation.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford issued a strong condemnation of the violence late Sunday night.
“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 in a social media statement. “My thoughts are with the Jewish community in Belleville and across Ontario, who have every right to gather and worship safely and without fear.”
The Premier vowed that those responsible would be identified and prosecuted “to the full extent of the law.” He further extended his gratitude to the wounded officer and the first responders who arrived on the scene, crediting their rapid response with preventing further harm to the community.
The ripple effects of the shooting were felt across the province as major law enforcement agencies moved to bolster security. Both the Toronto Police Service and the York Regional Police confirmed they are monitoring the situation closely. Out of an abundance of caution, both services have announced increased visibility and patrols at synagogues and other houses of worship across the Greater Toronto Area.
As the SIU continues to probe the circumstances surrounding the shooting, the Belleville community is left to process a violent disruption to one of the most solemn days on the Jewish calendar. Further updates from the SIU are expected in the coming days as the investigation proceeds.
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