In a brazen daylight attack that has sent shockwaves through Albania's legal community, senior judge Gjin Gjoni was brutally assassinated outside the Tirana courthouse on Tuesday. The shooting occurred during a brief recess in an ongoing hearing, marking one of the most audacious attacks on Albania's judiciary in recent memory.
A Targeted Attack in Broad Daylight
According to police reports and eyewitness accounts, the 53-year-old judge was shot multiple times at close range just metres from the courthouse entrance. The assailant, described as a young man wearing a mask, approached Gjoni during a break in proceedings and opened fire before fleeing the scene on foot.
"This was a cold-blooded execution," one court employee, who wished to remain anonymous, told reporters. "He was targeted specifically during the hearing break when he would be most vulnerable."
Immediate Fallout and Investigation
The attack prompted immediate lockdown of the courthouse complex as special police units and forensic teams descended on the area. Despite emergency medical efforts, Judge Gjoni was pronounced dead at the scene, his body remaining cordoned off for several hours as investigators collected evidence.
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama swiftly condemned the killing, stating: "This heinous crime against a servant of justice is an attack on the entire state. We will not rest until those responsible are brought to justice."
Growing Concerns Over Judicial Safety
The assassination has raised urgent questions about security measures for judicial officials in Albania. Judge Gjoni had been presiding over various criminal cases, though authorities have not yet confirmed if any particular case motivated the attack.
Legal associations across Albania have called for emergency meetings, while the European Union has expressed deep concern about the incident, given Albania's status as a candidate country for EU membership.
As the manhunt for the shooter continues, the legal community remains in mourning, with many judges expressing fears for their own safety and calling for immediate enhanced protection measures.
