A 30-year-old man shot and killed an appeals court judge inside a courtroom in Tirana, Albania, on Monday, October 6, 2025, before fleeing the scene and being arrested shortly afterward. The gunman also wounded two other people during the hearing over a property dispute.
Judge Astrit Kalaja was presiding over a case at the Court of Appeals when the defendant, identified by police as E. Sh., opened fire with a pistol. Kalaja died while being transported to the hospital following the attack.
The shooter also wounded a father and son who were the opposing parties in the property case. Both victims were hospitalized with injuries that were not life-threatening and are reported to be in stable condition.
Police reports indicate that the gunman shot Kalaja several times using a pistol he had concealed in his belt, firing immediately after a verdict was announced. He then turned the weapon on the two plaintiffs before leaving the courtroom and handing the pistol to a court clerk.
The suspect fled the courthouse but was apprehended by authorities, who also recovered the revolver believed to have been used in the shooting. Albanian media have identified the gunman as Elvis Shkëmbi, though police continue to refer to him only by his initials.
Authorities have arrested three people in connection with the incident. In addition to the shooter, police detained his uncle, who was also a defendant in the case, and a 63-year-old security guard identified as B.K. Police allege the security guard failed to properly check the two men or register them in the required protocol book for all people entering or leaving the courthouse.
The suspect and his uncle were able to remain in the courthouse lobby for nearly an hour before the hearing began. Police suggest the uncle may have been aware of the planned attack, stating that his failure to intervene creates reasonable suspicion that he served as an instigator or assistant in the crime.
Prime Minister Edi Rama described the incident as tragic and called for enhanced security measures within the country’s courts. Rama stated that “the criminal aggression against the judge undoubtedly requires the most extreme legal response toward the aggressor.” He also advocated for stricter penalties for illegal weapon possession.
President Bajram Begaj condemned the shooting as an attack against the entire justice system. General Prosecutor Olsian Çela emphasized that the incident strikes at the foundation of justice and the functioning of the legal system.
Opposition Democratic Party leader Sali Berisha noted that this marked the first time in 35 years that a judge had been murdered while performing official duties. He called for deep reflection by Albanian society regarding the incident.
Judge Kalaja had served as a lawyer for more than 30 years before being appointed to Tirana’s Court of Appeals in 2019. His death represents a significant loss to the Albanian judicial system, which has undergone extensive reforms in recent years.
The shooting highlights ongoing concerns about gun violence in Albania. According to data from the South Eastern and Eastern Europe Clearinghouse for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons, there were 213 firearm-related incidents in the country between January and June 2025. Albania recorded the highest number of firearm incidents linked to public disputes among Balkan nations during this period, with 43 such cases.
Under current Albanian law, illegal possession of firearms carries a maximum penalty of three years in prison. The recent incident has renewed calls for stricter gun control measures and enhanced courthouse security protocols.
The Court of Appeals has suspended all trials following the shooting, with only sessions for issuing security measures continuing to be held. The courthouse remains a crime scene as investigators work to piece together the full circumstances of the attack.
This incident recalls a similar attack in 2015 at Milan’s Palace of Justice, where a man on trial for bankruptcy shot and killed a judge, a lawyer, and his co-defendant before escaping and being arrested later.
The shooting has raised questions about court security measures and the ability of the judicial system to protect its personnel. Since 2016, Albania has implemented sweeping judicial reforms backed by the European Union and United States, though these changes have resulted in significant case backlogs, with tens of thousands of cases delayed for years.
