Judge shot dead in Albania courtroom, suspect arrested after fleeing

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Chaos erupted in an Albanian courtroom Monday when a man opened fire during a trial, fatally shooting a judge before fleeing the scene, authorities said.

Police later confirmed that the victim, Judge Astrit Kalaja of the Tirana appeals court, was “shot inside the courtroom” by a 30-year-old suspect identified only by the initials E. Sh. Kalaja died while being transported to a hospital.

According to investigators, two other individuals present at the hearing were also struck by gunfire. Their wounds were not life-threatening, police said.

“The gunman fled the scene but was later arrested,” officials told news agency AP, noting that the alleged revolver used in the attack was also recovered.

Details about what led to the shooting remain unclear. Authorities have not disclosed a motive or described the specific case being heard. A court posting indicated that the matter involved a property dispute.

The violent incident comes as Albania continues to struggle with a justice system burdened by years of delay. Since a sweeping judicial overhaul began in 2016 — backed by both the European Union and the United States — tens of thousands of cases have stalled in the courts.

The courtroom attack has shocked the country, raising questions about security and the mounting pressures within Albania’s legal system.

With inputs from AP