A courtroom in Tirana, Albania, descended into violence on Monday when a man on trial opened fire, killing the presiding judge and injuring two others, police reported.
Appeals court judge Astrit Kalaja was overseeing a case when the defendant pulled out a firearm, according to authorities. Kalaja was rushed to hospital but died en route, while a father and son involved in the case were also shot and taken to hospital in stable condition. Local media reports indicate the dispute stemmed from a property conflict, and the shooter acted after learning he was likely to lose.
The suspect was immediately arrested. Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama called the incident a “tragic event” and called for stricter sentencing for gun-related offences, stressing that such crimes require “the most extreme legal response against the aggressor.” President Bajram Begaj condemned the attack as “a terrible attack against the entire justice system.”
Illegal firearm possession in Albania carries a maximum sentence of three years. According to the South Eastern and Eastern Europe Clearinghouse for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SEESAC), 213 firearm incidents were reported in Albania between January and June 2025.