A judge in Albania has been shot dead after a man opened fire during a trial at the Court of Appeal in the capital Tirana. Judge Astrit Kalaja died en route to hospital, officials said, while two others involved in the hearing over a property dispute - a father and son - were shot but sustained injuries that were not life-threatening. Police arrested a 30-year-old male suspect identified by the initials E Sh, named by Albanian media as Elvis Shkëmbi. Albania's Prime Minister Edi Rama expressed condolences to Judge Kalaja's family, emphasizing the need for strict legal repercussions against the aggressor. He also called for enhanced security measures in courts and stricter penalties for illegal weapon possession. Sali Berisha, the leader of the opposition Democratic Party, noted that this marks the first time in 35 years a judge has been killed while performing his duties. Reports suggest the shooter acted out of anxiety over losing the trial. The suspect and his uncle, along with the court's security guard, were subsequently arrested. Following the shooting, Albania's general prosecutor, Olsian Çela, stated that judge safety must be improved in response to this event, which endangers both legal officials and the judicial process. Firearm attacks on judges in courtrooms are rare, but this incident mirrors past occurrences, such as a similar attack in Milan years ago. For the first half of this year, Albania recorded the highest firearm-related incidents linked to public disputes compared to other Balkan nations.