Albanian Judge Shot Dead in Court During Trial

A judge was shot and killed inside Tirana’s Court of Appeal on Monday after a man opened fire during a trial.

Judge Astrit Kalaja, 63, died en route to the hospital. Two others involved in the hearing—a father and son disputing a property case—were injured but their wounds were not life-threatening.

Police arrested 30-year-old Elvis Shkëmbi, identified as the alleged gunman, along with his uncle, who was a defendant in the case. Authorities also detained a security guard, claiming he allowed Shkëmbi into the building despite triggering a metal detector.

According to police, Shkëmbi shot Judge Kalaja several times immediately after the verdict was announced, then targeted the two plaintiffs. The uncle and the security guard reportedly failed to intervene, allowing the gunman access to the courtroom.

Prime Minister Edi Rama expressed condolences to Kalaja’s family and called for stronger court security and harsher penalties for illegal weapon possession. General Prosecutor Olsian Çela said the attack “strikes at the very foundation of justice and the functioning of the legal system.”

Judge Kalaja had over 30 years of experience as a lawyer, initially serving in district courts before his 2019 appointment to the Court of Appeal.

Although rare, firearm attacks on judges in courtrooms have occurred elsewhere, including a notable case in Milan, Italy, a decade ago.

A UN-backed regional monitor reports Albania led the Balkans in firearm incidents tied to public disputes during the first half of 2025, with 43 such events recorded between January and June.