Courts
Killing of two Islamaj brothers in Kamëz: Court keeps Ngushëllim Manzi in jail
The 40-year-old is accused of shooting dead Selam and Nazmi Islamaj and wounding their brother; the defense claims he acted in a state of shock after his family was attacked.
By ANN Newsroom · Newsroom
October 21, 2026, 13:21 · Updated 12:24 · 2 min read
In brief
- The Tirana court ordered “jail arrest” for 40-year-old Ngushëllim Manzi.
- He is suspected of killing brothers Selam and Nazmi Islamaj and wounding Shefqet Islamaj on Oct. 19 in Bathore.
- His lawyer claims the brothers attacked Manzi, his sister and his mother with hard objects and a crowbar.
The Tirana court on Wednesday ordered the security measure of “jail arrest” for Ngushëllim Manzi, the 40-year-old accused of the double killing in Kamëz. Manzi is suspected of opening fire on the three Islamaj brothers on Sunday, Oct. 19, in the Bathore area, killing Selam and Nazmi Islamaj and wounding Shefqet Islamaj.
According to initial reports after the incident, the quarrel had started over the boundary wall of a property, and the suspect was identified as a member of the military police.
The defense's version
At the security measure hearing, Manzi did not make statements because of his psychological condition, and his version was presented by his lawyer. According to the defense, the conflict began when the three Islamaj brothers attacked Manzi, his sister and his mother, striking them with heavy objects and a crowbar. Manzi, according to the lawyer, took the weapon and fired at the brothers while in a state of severe psychological shock.
Selam and Nazmi Islamaj died of their gunshot wounds, while their brother Shefqet was wounded. The defense said that while at the police station the defendant had expressed remorse for what happened. BalkanWeb also reported the lawyer's claim that Manzi and his parents had been assaulted during the conflict.
The investigation continues
Despite the defense's claims, the court imposed the most severe security measure. The investigation is continuing to clarify all the circumstances of the incident, including the claims of both sides and each person's role in the conflict.
The defense's version remains to be verified by the investigation, and the Islamaj family has so far not made a public statement on the lawyer's claims.
