What to know
- An exchange of gunfire near a Belleville synagogue left a police officer and a 29-year-old man injured.
- The officer is in critical but stable condition, while the man remains in life-threatening condition.
- The shooting occurred on Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish calendar.
- Prime Minister Mark Carney and Ontario Premier Doug Ford have condemned the shooting and expressed support for the Jewish community and injured officer.
Prime Minister Mark Carney and Ontario Premier Doug Ford are reacting after a shooting outside a Jewish synagogue in Belleville on Sunday evening.
According to Ontario’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU), an investigation has been launched following an exchange of gunfire between a 29-year-old man and police officers near the Sons of Jacob Synagogue.
The SIU says the shooting happened around 7 p.m. when officers exchanged gunfire with a man armed with a shotgun.
The man and one police officer suffered gunshot wounds and were taken to hospital. The officer is in critical but stable condition, while the man remains in life-threatening condition.
The shooting occurred on Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish calendar.
Carney took to social media Monday morning to condemn the shooting, saying Jewish people must be able to worship safely.
“Jewish people must be able to worship safely. To live free, open, proud Jewish lives. 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,” Carney said.
“My thoughts are with the injured officer and his family, and the entire Jewish community.”
Ford also addressed the shooting on social media, saying he was “disgusted” by the incident.
“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,” he said.
Ford also expressed his support for the injured officer.
“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,” he said.
The SIU says four investigators and two forensic investigators have been assigned to the case.
Anyone who may have information about the investigation, including video or photographs, is asked to contact the lead investigator at 1-800-787-8529.
