On Oct. 6, a 30‑year‑old man fired into a courtroom in Tirana, killing Judge Astrit Kalaja and wounding three others.
Courtroom Shooting in Tirana
On Oct. 6 at about 15:40, inside Tirana’s Court of Appeal, Judge Astrit Kalaja was reading a verdict when gunfire erupted.
Perpetrator and Motive
The shooter, 30‑year‑old Elvis Shkambi, a defendant in the case, allegedly said “I shot him because I was losing the case.” Investigators are determining how he brought the gun into the courtroom.
Victims
Judge Kalaja was mortally wounded and later died. Two defendants—45‑year‑old Ervis Kurtaj and his 60‑year‑old father Rakip Kurtaj—were also injured. A third person, unidentified, was wounded.
Government Response
Prime Minister Edi Rama condemned the attack and demanded the harshest punishment, urging an amendment to the criminal code on firearms. President Bajram Begaj called the incident a “brutal assault” on the justice system.
Violence Trend
Between January and March, Albanian authorities reported 213 firearm‑related attacks, highlighting a growing problem with gun violence.
