Belleville synagogue shooting suspect 'spouted' theory that blamed Jews for COVID: reports

Sean Ward, the 29-year-old suspect of a shooting that took place outside a synagogue in Belleville, Ont. served in the Canadian military and was discharged after refusing a COVID-19 vaccine, according to reporting by Global News and The Globe and Mail.

One source told Global News that he “spouted” antisemitic conspiracy theories, including one that blamed the Jewish community for COVID. According to the World Jewish Congress, myths about Jews being responsible for the pandemic spread online and at demonstrations around the world. “While some of these bigoted messages appeared new, they were repackaged antisemitic tropes,” the congress said.

Two sources from the Department of National Defence told the Globe and Mail that after five years, Ward was released because he was unsuitable for service.

His release, the sources said, was categorized as 5F. According to the National Defence website, 5F is when a person is deemed “unsuitable for further service.”

One source told the Globe and Mail and Global News that his release was due to his refusal to get a COVID vaccine.

It is believed that Ward arrived near the synagogue in a truck and was armed with a shotgun on Sept 20. There were roughly 25 congregants inside the building for evening prayers on Yom Kippur, the holiest day for the Jewish community.

Ward allegedly opened fire on Belleville police Const. Jeff Smith, who was stationed there due to safety concerns from the community. According to Global News, Belleville police were only assigned to the synagogue because congregants had reported a suspicious vehicle parked outside a week earlier. Smith and other officers who were called to the scene fired back at Ward, Special Investigations Unit spokesperson Kristy Denette said at a news conference.

Ward was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries. He died on Tuesday. An autopsy is set for Wednesday.

Smith is in critical but stable condition. A GoFundMe set up on behalf of Toronto’s Jewish community for the officer has reached more than $350,000.

The Canadian Armed Forces confirmed to National Post on Tuesday that a man named Sean Ward joined the forces in July 2017 and was “released in June 2022 at the rank of corporal.”

He was part of the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, based in Edmonton, and was never deployed.

In the 2018 issue of The Patrician, a publication by the Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, a member named Sean Ward was listed as being part of the regiment’s 3rd battalion, based in Edmonton.

The PPCLI Regimental Headquarters and the Department of National Defence did not immediately respond to National Post’s request for comment about Ward.

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