Police officer Besart Kovaçi was detained by order of the Prosecutor's Office, who was inside a barbershop in the village of Rrilë, Lezha, on the evening of February 1, 2026, at the time when 21-year-old Merando Nikulaj was allegedly assassinated. Meanwhile, four other people have been declared wanted by the police.
The police officer is accused of the criminal offense of "Abuse of duty." It is learned that Besart Kovaçi was present in the barbershop where the injured young man was and, during the gun attack, responded to the perpetrators by shooting.
In connection with the incident, the authorities have declared citizens with the initials GN, EN, KN and MN wanted, suspected of the criminal offenses "Intentional murder, attempted" and "Unlicensed possession of firearms and ammunition and explosives".
The incident occurred at around 9:00 PM on February 1, 2026, in the village of Rrilë, Shenkoll Administrative Unit, where a 21-year-old citizen was injured as a result of gunfire.
NOTICE
Lezha Police continue in-depth investigations to fully uncover the incident that occurred on the evening of February 1, 2026 in the village of Rrilë, Shenkoll Administrative Unit, where at around 9:00 PM, a citizen was injured by gunfire.
The Special Investigation Group of the Lezha Police Department, under the direction of the Prosecutor's Office, has intensified investigative actions with the aim of legally documenting the event, identifying and capturing the suspected perpetrators.
As part of the investigation, a detention order was executed for citizen BK, 24 years old, resident of the village of Dragushë, Dajç Administrative Unit, Lezha Municipality, suspected of the criminal offense of "Abuse of office".
From the entirety of the investigative actions, it has resulted that citizens GN, EN, KN and MN are suspected of being involved in this incident, and they have been declared wanted. The police continue to work to locate and arrest them.
The procedural materials have been referred to the Prosecutor's Office at the First Instance Court of General Jurisdiction in Lezha, in charge of four citizens wanted for the criminal offenses of "Intentional Murder, Attempted" and "Unauthorized Possession of Firearms, Ammunition and Explosives", as well as against citizen BK for "Abuse of Office".
