An armed ambush on Xhani Street in Dukagjin took the lives of father and son, Prelë Gjon, 82, and his son, Lekë Gjon, 57. Lazër Bashi, who happened to be in the vehicle, was also injured in the attack.
The incident is suspected to have occurred at around 4:00 PM, while the victims were traveling in a four-wheel drive from their old home in Dukagjin towards Shkodra. About two kilometers after the Pultit and Shoshi roads split, the vehicle was shot at with a volley of bullets by as yet unidentified individuals.
Their vehicle is riddled with bullets. The driver, Lekë Gjoni, died on the spot, while his father, Prelë Gjoni, was also killed with him. The vehicle ended up on the side of the road after the barrage of gunfire. More than 50 shell casings were found at the scene. According to preliminary investigation data, the perpetrators used at least two weapons, a Kalashnikov and an MP5, which reinforces the suspicions that at least two people participated in the assassination.
Lazër Bashi, who was in the back of the vehicle, was injured. Initially, he was taken to the Shkodra Hospital and then to Tirana for specialized treatment. His condition is reported to be out of danger to his life. After receiving the notification at around 17:20, numerous police forces were dispatched to the area, while RENEA officers were also involved in the operation. Due to the deep mountainous terrain, remoteness and difficulty of access, the Police forces arrived at the scene around 19:00.
Investigators have launched searches in the surrounding area to identify and capture the perpetrators. The rugged terrain, the lack of telephone signal and security cameras on the roads in the area significantly complicate the work of tracking them down. The relatives of Prelë and Lekë Gjoni have stated to investigators that the father and son were not known as problematic people and were unaware of any possible conflicts. According to them, the day before the incident they had gone to their old apartment in Dukagjin, where they also kept several beehives, and were returning to their apartment in Gruda, Shkodra.
Despite statements by family members that the victim had no conflicts, the investigation team is verifying several leads. One of them is related to the 57-year-old's personal life and his divorce about three months ago from his wife, with whom he had four children. However, so far there is no concrete evidence linking the divorce to the assassination and this remains only an investigative lead. The Police and the Prosecution continue their investigations to clarify the motive, identify the perpetrators and document the full dynamics of the double murder and injury. Footage from the scene shows the intensity of the attack, with the victims' vehicle hit by a large number of bullets, while the perpetrators were able to leave the area before the arrival of the Police forces.
