Sean Ward filed $1-million Federal Court claim over release from Canadian Armed Forces
The man who died after a gun battle with police outside a Belleville, Ont. synagogue on Yom Kippur was a former infantry corporal who was suing the Canadian Armed Forces for $1 million after being discharged for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine, according to reports.
Police have identified the suspect as Sean Ward, 29. They have not said whether he was targeting Sons of Jacob Synagogue, nor have they commented on a possible motive, said Global News.
Ward approached the synagogue armed with a shotgun on the evening of Sunday, Sept. 20, as congregants gathered for Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish year. According to the National Post, roughly 25 people were inside the building for evening prayers.
A police officer, Const. Jeff Smith, was stationed outside in an unmarked car because congregants had reported a suspicious vehicle parked outside about a week earlier, Global News reported.
Gunfire broke out at about 7 p.m., according to police. A second officer arrived, and Ward was wounded in the exchange of fire. He was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries and later died.
Smith was struck by gunfire and remains in hospital in critical but stable condition, according to both outlets. A GoFundMe campaign organized by Derek Kreindler on behalf of members of Canada's Jewish community has raised more than $500,000 from more than 5,000 donors for Smith and his family.
Military service and discharge
The Canadian Armed Forces confirmed to the National Post that a man named Sean Ward joined in July 2017 and was released in June 2022 at the rank of corporal. He was based in Edmonton and never deployed.
Two Department of National Defence sources told The Globe and Mail that Ward was released as unsuitable for service, and one source told Global News that the release was due to his refusal to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
Ward's release was categorized as 5(f). Under the Department of National Defence's release administration guidelines, 5(f) falls within the "Service Completed" category of compulsory releases and denotes a member deemed unsuitable for further service.
Documents obtained by Global News show Ward was a corporal based at CFB Edmonton when he declined the vaccine on religious grounds. According to the Federal Court claim, filed in 2023, he had served honourably for almost five years, was told no exemption would be granted, and was released after refusing.
Allegations of antisemitism
The suit claimed Ward had incurred $140,000 in financial losses following his dismissal. It alleged that he and other plaintiffs suffered lasting psychological, physical and emotional harm, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and a loss of trust in others, as a result of their discharges. The claim also described the vaccines as harmful and argued the policy violated his bodily autonomy, Global News reported.
In its statement of defence, the federal government denied the allegations and argued the case should be dismissed. It maintained that vaccination was safe and effective, that the pandemic posed a fundamental threat to Canadians and to the military's ability to carry out its mandate, and that vaccination was a key part of protecting the health of CAF members and Department of National Defence employees, according to Global News.
The lawyer handling the case against the military did not respond to Global News' requests for comment.
Sources told Global News that Ward repeated COVID-19 conspiracy theories while serving with the regiment, and one source said he also repeated antisemitic memes. Global News reported that one of these theories blamed the Jewish community for the pandemic.
Canada's Jewish community has faced a wave of antisemitic assaults, threats, arsons and shootings over the past three years, and that police have disrupted at least four recent terrorist plots directed at Jews.
