The double murder that occurred on Sunday afternoon in Balldre, Lezha, where Kreshnik Mujeci and his wife were killed, has brought to light an old criminal story dating back to 2016. Recent developments suggest that the event may be a long chain of unresolved conflicts, where the gaps in justice are often filled by the logic of personal revenge.
The police announced that they have identified three suspects in the assassination and have declared them wanted. They are Adriano Mhillaj, 22 years old, Florin Mhillaj, 36 years old and Renato Mhillaj, 23 years old. According to preliminary data, Adriano Mhillaj is the son of Genc Mhillaj, the victim killed in 2016 in Shkodra, for an event for which Kreshnik Mujeci was also accused and tried, but was ultimately found not guilty by the court. The other two wanted are his uncles' sons.
According to preliminary investigations, the crime that occurred in Lezha is suspected to have been committed for revenge motives. Mujeci and his wife were shot while inside their vehicle. Both died on the spot from the shooting, while the perpetrators fled immediately and are still being sought.
A file that returns after 9 years
The assassination has brought to light a criminal case from 2016 related to the murder of citizen Genc Mhillaj. According to the investigative file, on October 6 of that year, at around 11:00, police were notified of a person shot with a firearm on the Rranxa-Bushat axis towards Mali i Jushi in Shkodra.
The victim was rushed to the Shkodra Regional Hospital, but did not survive his injuries. A witness stated that he had seen two armed men, one with an automatic weapon and the other with a bat, who after the shooting got into a dark-colored Audi vehicle and left the scene.
The Shkodra Prosecution Office sent for trial the criminal case against Jozef Mujeci, accused of "premeditated murder" in collaboration and "unlicensed possession of weapons", as well as against Kreshnik Mujeci, who was charged with "premeditated murder" in collaboration.
Evidence and suspicions of the investigation
During the investigation, it was revealed that the victim had had a conflict a few days before the incident with Jozef Mujeci, which was considered by the prosecution as a possible motive for the crime.
As part of the investigation, the police conducted searches at the apartment of Pjetër Mujeci, the father of Jozef Mujeci. At the entrance to the yard, a dark gray Audi A3 vehicle was found, with the hood and muffler still hot.
About 2-3 kilometers from the crime scene, in front of the "Molla" restaurant, a Mercedes-Benz van with documents in the name of Kreshnik Mujeci was also found, an element that, according to the prosecution, connected him to the incident.
A TT pistol, model 54, caliber 7.62 mm, with a clip of eight rounds, was also seized at the scene.
The investigation also included environmental wiretapping between Pjetër Mujeci and Jozef Mujeci, from which, according to the prosecution, data was obtained that was considered important for the case. Another witness stated that he had seen a car moving near Pjetër Mujeci's apartment about an hour before the police arrived, but was unable to identify its driver.
Why did the court declare them innocent?
However, during the trial, the court concluded that the evidence presented by the prosecution was not sufficient to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The examination showed that no fingerprints of Jozef Mujec were found in the Audi vehicle. Also, the witness who had mentioned his name during the investigation later stated in court that he had not identified the perpetrators of the murder.
During the trial, evidence was presented showing that at the time of the crime, Jozef Mujeci was in the Koplik area, while telephone records supported this version.
For these reasons, the court decided to acquit Jozef and Kreshnik Mujeci of the charge of premeditated murder.
When justice fails, revenge arises.
This very story seems to have tragically returned to Lezha today. If the investigation confirms the revenge plot, then the double murder can be seen as a consequence of a conflict that was never truly resolved.
In many cases, even when justice establishes innocence due to lack of evidence, this does not necessarily convince the parties involved in the conflict. And it is precisely in these gaps that another logic often arises – that of private justice.
The Lezha incident is a tragic reminder that when the wounds of the past remain open and justice fails to create a full social conviction for the truth, the risk is that revenge will take its place.
Meanwhile, the police and the investigation team continue the operation to capture the three suspects, while the investigations are focused on fully clarifying the circumstances of the assassination and verifying its connection to previous conflicts.
