‘You are going to die for the Jews,’ said Belleville shooting suspect: police

The suspect in the synagogue attack in Belleville, Ont., shouted “You are going to die for the Jews” before an exchange of gunfire with police, according to a video played at a police press conference Thursday.

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Belleville Police Chief Murray Rodd said it was a hate-motivated crime and that 29-year-old Sean Ward had the “means, the mechanism and the motive” to launch a larger attack.

Although he said he could not go into more detail, the evidence collected shows Ward’s intent was to specifically target the Jewish community.

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The attack was an “exclusive threat to our Jewish community,” said Rodd.

He shared the seconds-long video in which a man can be heard yelling, followed by the sound of two loud shots outside of the Sons of Jacob Synagogue just after 7 p.m. on Sunday. Inside the synagogue about 25 people were gathered for Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. None were injured.

Rodd said Ward used a shotgun and had other resources available, including gasoline, and a “significant amount” of ammunition on him. Earlier that day, Ward was doing reconnaissance near the synagogue, according to the chief.

He said he was only stopped by Const. Jeff Smith, who was stationed outside the synagogue, and a second officer, identified as Const. Mike McCurdy, who arrived at the scene a little more than two minutes after the gunman opened fire.

Smith was shot in his vehicle but managed to get out and pursue the gunman.

Ward was shot and fatally injured. He died in hospital on Monday.

Smith was taken to hospital in critical condition and is facing multiple surgeries. McCurdy was not injured.

The police chief called both officers heroes.

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