What we know
What we know: Suspect in Yom Kippur shooting outside Ontario synagogue dies from his injuries
Compiled Sep 22
What we know
- Sean Ward, 29, of Quinte West was suspected of opening fire on a police officer outside the Sons of Jacob synagogue in Ontario
- Ward died Monday night from his injuries, according to Ontario's Special Investigations Unit
- Ward served in the Canadian Armed Forces from 2017 to 2022 as an infantry soldier, reaching the rank of corporal, and did not deploy
- Officer Jeff Smith was wounded in the shootout and praised by Prime Minister Mark Carney for 'heroic actions'
- About two dozen people were inside the synagogue for Yom Kippur services but none were injured
- The shooting happened Sunday night, triggering a shootout between Ward and the officer
What we don’t know yet
- Police have not established a motive for the shooting
- Police have not said whether the synagogue or Jewish community was specifically targeted
- Carney declined to comment on questions about the suspect's former military service
- Belleville police's parallel criminal investigation into the man's actions and possible motive is ongoing
Open questions
- What motivated Ward to open fire on the officer?
- Was the Sons of Jacob synagogue or Jewish community deliberately targeted?
- Why did Carney decline to discuss Ward's military service?
- What will Belleville police's criminal investigation reveal about Ward's actions?
Drawn from the Associated Press report. “What we don’t know” lists only what the reporting itself flags as unresolved.