Rexhep Ismaili, 66, killed after brawl in Sarandë; Kostandin Vogli surrenders as probe widens
A violent confrontation last night in the Gjashtë area of Sarandë left 66-year-old Rexhep Ismaili dead and injured another man, according to preliminary information from investigators. The incident has prompted a wide-ranging police inquiry to identify all those involved.
Early findings indicate the fight began after a dispute between Kostandin Vogli and 50-year-old Viktor (Tori) Ruçi. Investigators say Vogli had called several young men after seeing Ruçi at Ismaili’s establishment. What started as a physical altercation with blunt objects then escalated into an exchange of gunfire.
According to the investigation, Vogli was wounded in the leg during the clash. One of the young men who was with him then fired a weapon, fatally shooting Ismaili. After the incident, Vogli surrendered to police and was taken to the hospital in Sarandë for treatment.
He is expected to be transferred to Vlorë for more specialized care and for security reasons. Police said they are continuing work to fully clarify the circumstances and to identify all participants in the incident. Ruçi, who is from Tepelena and has lived for years in the village of Gjashtë in Sarandë, has prior criminal precedents and has previously been mentioned in investigations related to drug trafficking, according to reports.
Authorities have not announced arrests related to the fatal shooting beyond Vogli’s surrender, and the investigation remains ongoing.