Belleville, Ontario — A shooting incident outside the Sons of Jacob Synagogue in Belleville, Ontario, has left a police officer and one civilian hospitalized, authorities confirmed.
The violence erupted Sunday evening near the intersection of Bleecker Avenue and Victoria Avenue while the synagogue was hosting Yom Kippur services for roughly twenty attendees. According to Belleville Police, both the officer and an “individual” were transported to a local hospital following the incident.
Emergency responders, including paramedics and several police vehicles—among them the department’s armored Community Safety Vehicle—arrived at the scene. Drones were also deployed in the area as part of the ongoing investigation.
Witnesses in the neighborhood reported hearing a barrage of gunfire. One nearby resident, identified as Josee, described the sequence to Quinte News: “At first it was just one shot, and then about five to ten seconds later, it was literally bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang.”
Josee recounted stepping onto her porch to investigate the source of the noise. “We heard it coming from down the road, and I saw a truck driving off the road and onto the sidewalk,” she said. She began recording a video on her phone but stopped when the gunfire intensified to call 911. Footage shared with Quinte News captured a silver Chevrolet Silverado veering off the roadway, followed by a loud bang before the recording cut off.
Another local resident, Sheldon, told media that the gunshots were audible from as far away as Meyers Pier. He and his son-in-law were sitting at the pier when they heard what he estimated to be about nine shots, which quickly escalated to roughly 25.
A security guard at the synagogue, identified only as Mike, also spoke about the terrifying moments. “I’m in charge of security. I went back into the synagogue after walking around outside, and as soon as I entered the sanctuary and walked down the stairs, I heard this loud pop—a constant banging sound,” he said. From inside, he caught a glimpse of what appeared to be a person running past a window before the situation unfolded further.
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.
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.
— Doug Ford (@fordnation) September 21, 2026
