A COURTROOM turned into a scene of terror when a man on trial opened fire, killing the presiding judge and injuring two others during a heated property dispute hearing.
Appeals Court Judge Astrit Kalaja was shot inside his own courtroom in Tirana, Albania, by a 30-year-old defendant identified by police as E. Sh.
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The judge was rushed to hospital after the horror Monday attack but “succumbed to his injuries on the way,” police confirmed.
The other side in the dispute — a father and son — were also hit and remain in hospital but are stable, officials said.
Local reports suggest the gunman opened fire because he believed he was about to lose the case.
Police arrested the shooter at the scene and seized the revolver used in the attack.
Authorities have reportedly also arrested the suspect’s uncle and a court security guard in connection with the shooting, as investigations continue.
Footage circulating online shows the chaotic aftermath outside the Tirana appeals court.
Clips show police vehicles arriving at the scene, officers in pursuit, and crowds scattering as authorities responded to the gunman’s escape.
Kalaja, a respected jurist with over 30 years in the legal field, had served on Tirana’s Court of Appeal since 2019.
The attack has reignited debate over Albania’s gun laws.
Illegal firearm possession carries a maximum three-year prison term.
But the country recorded 213 firearm incidents in the first half of 2025 alone, according to SEESAC data.
Prime Minister Edi Rama branded the killing a “tragic event,” demanding harsher sentencing for gun crimes.
“The criminal aggression against the judge undoubtedly requires the most extreme legal response toward the aggressor,” he said, while also calling for stricter court security.
Albanian President Bajram Begaj called it “a terrible attack against the entire justice system!”
Meanwhile, opposition leader Sali Berisha said it was the first time in 35 years a judge had been killed “while doing his duty.”
He added: “Today is the day for a deep reflection by all Albanian society.”
General prosecutor Olsian Çela said the shooting “strikes at the very foundation of justice and the functioning of the legal system” and vowed to review security measures for judges.
The incident took place during a period when Albania has been implementing significant court system reforms since 2016 with assistance from the US and the EU.
However, the system still faces significant obstacles, such as heightened tensions over delicate matters like property and multi-year delays in thousands of cases.
Locla media reported that the killing of a judge in a courtroom has sparked deep worries about the safety of Albania’s legal system and the tense atmosphere that still affects some of the nation’s judicial procedures.
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