A GoFundMe campaign for Belleville police officer Const. Jeff Smith, who was shot while preventing a mass shooting at the Sons of Jacob Synagogue on Yom Kippur, has raised over $665,000 as of Friday midday. The incident occurred when alleged shooter Sean Ward, 29, fired multiple shots outside the synagogue, targeting the Jewish community; Const. Smith sustained gunshot wounds but is receiving support from his wife and the public. Police Chief Murray Rodd confirmed that the attack was hate-motivated, and a second officer, Const. Michael McCurdy, assisted in responding to the threat without injury.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-02,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
On September 20, 2023 in Belleville, Ontario, Canada, a police officer was shot during an interaction with an individual near the Sons of Jacob Synagogue around 7:10 p.m. Both the officer and the individual sustained injuries and were transported to the hospital. The incident occurred as Jewish community members gathered for Yom Kippur services. Ontario's Special Investigations Unit (SIU) was notified and is investigating the shooting. Premier Doug Ford condemned the attack, stating that those responsible should be arrested and prosecuted. Local police have not provided further details about the incident while the investigation continues.
Written for “Belleville Synagogue Shooting” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 55 other(s) covering the same event.
The GoFundMe campaign supported by the Canadian Jewish community for Belleville, Ont. police officer, Const. Jeff Smith has exceeded its initial goal of $18,000, raising more than $665,000 as of midday Friday.
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campaign → support → midday
Const. Smith prevented a mass shooting when he defended against multiple gunshots fired outside Sons of Jacob Synagogue in Belleville, Ont., by alleged shooter Sean Ward, 29, on Sunday night.
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he → prevent → night
Const. Smith sustained multiple gunshots wounds to his head and body.
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Smith → sustain → head
He was shot before he exited his vehicle, Belleville Police Chief Murray Rodd said in a press conference on Thursday afternoon.
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Rodd → shoot → afternoon
“Jeff has a very long, difficult road ahead,” Smith’s wife Ashley Smith said on Tuesday in a Facebook post as she shared a photo of her holding her husband’s hand.
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her → have → hand
“But he is not walking it alone,” she added, expressing her gratitude for the outpouring of support.
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she → walk → support
The shooting described as a hate-motivated crime by Police Chief Rodd occurred as a Yom Kippur service was being attended by roughly 25 congregants and Const. Smith was stationed outside the synagogue for security reasons.
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Smith → describe → reasons
The 29-year-old gunman opened fire after shouting “you are going to die for the Jews,” as seen during a video the police played during the Thursday conference.
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police → open → conference
Police Chief Rodd added that the attack was an “exclusive threat to our Jewish community.”
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attack → add → community
Const. Michael McCurdy, A second police officer assisting Const. Smith, was not harmed.
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McCurdy → assist → Smith
As for the success of the GoFundMe campaign, campaign organizer Derek Kreindler said in an online post, “I am astounded at the donations that have poured in, and never imagined we would raise over $500,000.
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we → say → 500,000
My hope is that we are able to reach $1,000,000 by the time Constable Smith has been discharged from hospital.”
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Smith → reach → hospital
Former Bay of Quinte MP Ryan Williams took to social media to recognize the courage showed by Const. Smith for putting “himself in harm’s way protecting the community.”
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Williams → take → community
He also commendedConst. Mike McCurdy for his part in rushing to assist Smith.
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He → commendedConst → Smith
Running toward gunfire while everyone else is trying to get away,” Williams wrote on Facebook.
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Williams → run → Facebook
“We’ve spent the last few days talking about tragedy, fear and hate.
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We → spend → tragedy
We should also take a moment to recognize extraordinary courage when we see it,” he wrote.
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he → take → it
“Some donors have asked about the second officer that assisted Constable Smith before more backup arrived,” wrote GoFundMe organizer Kreindler.
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Kreindler → ask → Smith
“Constable McCurdy faced the same danger as Constable Smith while protecting the synagogue and those gathered inside, and assisting his fellow officer.
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McCurdy → face → officer
We are deeply relieved that he is safe, and grateful to learn that he was physically unharmed.
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he → relieve → ?
”
Meanwhile, Sons of Jacob have also launched a fundraiser to help rebuild the damage sustained by gunfire and aims to raise $90,000.
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Sons → launch → 90,000
The Aporia
