Wife of Officer Wounded After Belleville Synagogue Attack Says He Has Long Recovery Ahead

The wife of a Belleville, Ont., police officer wounded in a Sept. 20 shootout near the community’s synagogue has described the incident as “the scariest and darkest day of our lives,” while providing an update on her husband’s recovery.

“I don’t know where to begin. My words aren’t strong or steady yet, but I knew I needed to find them,” Ashley Smith wrote online on Sept. 23. “I needed to use my voice for my dear Jeff until he is able to use his.”

Const. Jeff Smith, a 13-year veteran of the Belleville Police Service and a member of its emergency response unit, was shot during an altercation with a suspect outside of the Sons of Jacob Synagogue as worshippers were observing Yom Kippur. Police identified the suspect as Sean Ward, 29, who arrived in a truck armed with a shotgun as worshippers were celebrating Yom Kippur.

Ward, who was a former Canadian Armed Forces member, allegedly opened fire at Smith, who was stationed outside the synagogue located in a residential area of the eastern Ontario city.

Smith and Ward were transported to Kingston General Hospital after the shootout that forced more than 25 congregants inside the synagogue to take shelter as bullets hit the stained-glass windows.

Smith remains in critical but stable condition, according to the police service. Ward died in the hospital on Sept. 21.

In her social media post, Ashley Smith thanked “this good and kind world” for surrounding the family with “more love, compassion, generosity and selflessness than I could ever put into words.”

“Jeff has a very long, difficult road ahead. But he is not walking it alone. He has an army of love behind him,” she said.

“And I know Jeff. He is the best man I know. He loves his family with his whole heart,” she continued. “And right now he is fighting. So we will fight with him.”

Smith said it was difficult to express her appreciation for the public’s “outpouring of love and support” toward her family, and she knew people were sending messages and prayers. She also knew that her gratitude would “never be enough.”

“I am witnessing real-life miracles. And so many of them have happened through human hands,” she continued.

Smith commended the “life-saving hands” of paramedics, police, “an angel neurosurgeon,” the trauma teams, doctors, nurses, and other personnel who demonstrated their kindness and skill. She also thanked neighbours, friends, the community, and volunteers.

“And then there are the hands that held me and my sweet girls when we were living through the scariest and darkest day of our lives,” she wrote.

“Today, I held Jeff’s hand. And I thought about all of those hands.”

Smith said she was sending her love and prayers to the Jewish community and “every scared soul” who was present during the shooting. Meanwhile, she asked everyone to keep sending prayers and messages of faith, hope, and love since the family could use “every bit of it we can get.”

Smith thanked everyone for loving Jeff, believing in him, honouring him, and holding her family up.

A GoFundMe campaign has been established by the members of the Jewish community in support of Smith with the goal of raising $450,000. As of Sept. 23, the campaign had raised more than $435,000.

“We are organizing this fundraiser as members of Canada’s Jewish community to express our profound gratitude to Const. Smith and to support him and his family during what may be a long and difficult recovery,” organizer Derek Kreindler said.