A quiet Sunday evening in Belleville turned violent this week, and Ontario's police watchdog is now investigating what happened.
According to a media release the Belleville Police Service posted to Facebook, the trouble began around 7:10 p.m. in the area of Bleecker Avenue and Victoria Avenue — a largely residential stretch of the city. There, an officer came upon an individual, and during that encounter, both the officer and the other person were hurt. Both were taken to hospital for treatment.
The province's Special Investigations Unit, which reviews incidents involving police that result in serious injury or death, has been notified. Belleville police say they will not be commenting further for now.
The shooting appears to have taken place close to the Sons of Jacob Synagogue, while a gathering was underway to observe Yom Kippur — the holiest day on the Jewish calendar, a day of fasting and atonement.
Premier Doug Ford weighed in on X, writing that he was "disgusted by the shooting" and expressing his support for the Jewish community in Belleville and throughout Ontario.
For our community, the timing could hardly be more painful. Yom Kippur draws families and neighbors together in prayer and reflection, and news of gunfire so close to a house of worship is a shock that will be felt well beyond Bleecker Avenue and Victoria Avenue. We will continue to follow this story as the SIU's investigation moves forward and more details become available.
