New details have been revealed from the show "At the Target" IN News24 regarding the serious incident that occurred on the evening of May 7 in Qafë Gjashtë, Saranda, where Rexhep Ismaili was killed and Konstandin Vogli was injured.
According to the investigative file provided by the show, the armed clash is suspected to be related to conflicts over control of coastal areas and interests in tourism. The incident took place at a bar owned by the Ismaili brothers, where Rexhep Ismaili, his brother Shahin Ismaili, Klodian Kroi, Armand Kanushi and Viktor Ruçi, known as Tori Ruçi, were at the table.
Investigations show that a group of people arrived at the bar with cars and motorbikes, led by Konstandin Vogli. According to security camera footage, the conflict initially started with hard objects and then degenerated into the use of firearms.
The footage shows that the main target of the group was Viktor Ruçi. At one point during the clash, Rexhep Ismaili took an automatic weapon from the premises of the bar and fired at the people who had entered his business. He was then shot in the head and died on the spot.
Excerpt from the documentary of the show "At the Target";
A city that until a few years ago was considered peaceful, unlike its coastal sisters, which had become arenas of fighting between criminal groups.
But even though there are no organized criminal groups that make law in the city, Saranda seems to have a different nature of domestic crime development.
A crime that is linked to the routes of drug trafficking from within the territory towards Greece, but also the fight for coastal spaces related to tourism in the area.
An enviable coastal area that lights up and reignites every time the summer season approaches.
Where the interests and clashes between those known as the strongmen of the area clearly emerge.
A conflict that in recent years has resulted in many deaths and disappearances, but also serious attacks with car bombings and even attempts to blow up ships.
As was the case with the bloody clash that occurred on the evening of May 7, in the village of Qafë Gjashtë in Saranda.
Where citizen Rexhep Ismaili, owner of the bar where the serious incident took place, was killed,
Citizen Konstandin Vogli was also injured.
An event that at first glance seemed to be about a verbal argument between several people, but it was soon discovered that here too the clash was related to the already declared war for the coastal areas.
But what happened on the evening of May 7th between the group led by Konstandin Vogli, who arrived in large numbers with several cars but also with a gun with him, and Rexhep Ismail, the owner of the bar, who at that moment was sitting at the table with his brother, two relatives as well as the real subject of the fight that would later degenerate into bloodshed and numerous bullets that were found everywhere in the bar?
What was the clash between Konstandin Vogli and Viktor Ruçi, also known as Tori Ruçi.
The latter is a very problematic character with the law.
According to the investigative file provided by the show 'Në Shënjestër', the first report of the gunfight that had occurred inside the premises of the Ismaili brothers' cafe in Qafë Gjashtë, arrived at the Saranda Police Operations Room at around 9:30 p.m. on the evening of May 7.
Where the Saranda police initially received notification that Rexhep Ismaili, the owner of the bar, had died.
But at the same time also a local political leader in the opposition.
On May 7, 2026, at around 9:30 p.m., the Operations Room of the Saranda Police Commissariat received a report that at the place called 'Ismaili Brothers' Fuel Station', precisely in the bar-cafe of this fuel station, citizen Rexhep Ismaili was killed.
The incident occurred after a brief conflict with several people who had gone there while the victim was drinking coffee with several other people.
What the investigative team saw upon arriving at the Ismaili brothers' bar was a real massacre.
Bullet marks were visible everywhere, scattered throughout the interior of the business.
The bullets, as will be seen from the first and second inspection of the scene, were found not only in the broken glass of the cafe-bar facade, but also in the bar's awning.
Which would lead one to believe that the collision had been such that the shooters had struck recklessly without caring about what might happen.
But as experts examined the scene, the only people who were not found were the people who had been shot. Specifically, the owner of the bar, Rexhep Ismaili, who was later found dead at the Saranda regional hospital, and Konstandin Vogli, who was found injured but was not initially found by the police.
The Ismaili brothers' gas station bar-cafe where the incident occurred is located on the first floor of a two-story building.
The entrance to the bar is on the west side of the gas station and upon first inspection it appeared that this glass entrance was completely broken.
During further inspection of the veranda of the bar, the investigation team found a switched on Samsung phone, while during further inspection of the scene, blood stains were also seen. As well as a hat with the inscription 'Puma' which has a piercing hole in the back.
This hat, as far as was understood, belonged to the victim Rexhep Ismaili, who had apparently been shot in the head with a bullet.
A situation that initially seemed chaotic, but later, with the clarification of the dynamics of how it had happened, the evidence, but also the security cameras, revealed the entire course of this event, which could have been even more serious in terms of numbers.
Bullets and bloodstains were found even at a distance from the bar, which initially suggested to the group of investigators that there may have been other people injured by gunfire in this incident.
Also found at the scene were shell casings from a Kalashnikov-type weapon.
Meanwhile, during the verification of the external premises, at a distance from the bar, blood residues were found.
Where at a distance of 7 meters from the bar, a black 'Audi' type vehicle with the license plate AB 579 VU was found. Inside the vehicle, two mobile phones were found turned on. While on the side adjacent to the bar, a magazine with 30 bullets was found.
But also, after thoroughly combing the outside of the bar, the police were able to find an automatic weapon, which was apparently used during the exchange of fire between the group that came from outside the bar and the one sitting at the shared table.
In the outdoor premises near some machinery, in an area with vegetation, a Model 56 automatic firearm was found with a cut barrel, with a magazine inserted and the safety down, where 21 cartridges were found in the magazine.
Just one day later, on May 8, after the scene was inspected once again, extensive damage from firearms was found, metal parts were scattered everywhere, and a bullet hole was found in the middle tent of the bar.
But how did the clash between the group led by Konstandin Voglit and the one at the table happen? Although the victim was Rexhep Ismaili, the owner of the bar, the real target was Viktor Ruçi.
According to the investigation team's review of the security cameras at the bar, it appears that everything started at 9:28 p.m. on the evening of May 7.
Cameras initially show the owner of the bar, Rexhep Ismaili, sitting at a table with four other people.
Among them are his brother Shahin Ismaili, two people known to him identified as Armand Kanushi and Klodian Kroi, as well as Viktor Ruçi, known as Tori Ruçi.
It is precisely at this time that a group of people appear at the external entrance of the bar and then attack the table where Rexhep Ismaili and their acquaintances, including Viktor Ruçi, were sitting.
Who come by motorbike and car.
From the security cameras it is noted that at the outdoor table of the bar owned by citizen Rexhep Ismaili there are 5 people. Specifically Rexhep Ismaili, Shahin Ismaili, Armand Kanushi. Tori Ruçi, Klodian Kroi.
At this very moment, at 9:48 p.m., a motorcycle appears from the old Himara-Saranda road, with one of the drivers on board being Lulzim Tabaku. Immediately behind this motorcycle are three cars.
Respectively, the 'Porsche' Cayene driven by Konstandin Vogli; the black 'Audi' Q8 from which Idriz Çelo emerges; the 'Audi' A7, from which Mario Agalliu emerges, and behind them another motorcycle with two people. Where the person behind is Ermal Shkalla.
What is evident from the security cameras is that the first to attack is Konstandin Vogli. He is seen holding a dangerous object in his hand. A pickaxe with which he hits Viktor Ruçi.
The trick is to intentionally back away to avoid blows.
Based on the footage, after the group arrives at the bar owned by Rexhep Ismail, they first go to Tori Ruçi.
The first to go towards him is Konstandin Vogli, who is holding a sharp object in his hand and hits Viktor Ruçi.
At this moment, many people are involved in the altercation. Among them is Lulzim Tabaku, who appears to have a firearm in his hand, who is being pushed around by citizen Shahin Ismaili.
It is precisely at this moment that the cameras show the owner of the bar, Rexhep Ismaili, who, after breaking away from the clashing group, returns a few seconds later with a Kalashnikov in his hand.
Which he kept in one of the annexes of the bar.
Rexhep Ismaili, who appeared with a gun in his hand, started shooting at the group of boys who had attacked his bar.
The moment when, in response, he takes a bullet to the head from Lulzim Tabaku.
This has already been proven by the security cameras seized by the investigative team.
During the clash with the powerful vehicles, at one point Rexhep Ismaili leaves and goes to a room next to the bar from where he emerges with an automatic firearm in his hand. What is noticeable during this moment is that Ismaili fires his gun in the direction of the street, while the people who have come from outside start to leave. The only one who does not leave is Lulzim Tabaku, who points the gun at Rexhep Ismaili, who after this moment falls to the ground and does not get up again.
This seems to be the end of the entire clash between the two groups of people involved in the conflict. What is observed next is that the people who came from outside the premises begin to leave in their own vehicles,
But while it seems like everything is over, here the cameras document another episode.
The moment when one of the brothers of the now-victim, Rexhep Ismaili, takes the gun and shoots at Konstandin Vogli, who remains wounded.
After the gunfight ends, Lulzim Tabaku gets on his motorcycle and leaves in the direction he came from.
Likewise, the 'Audi' 7 also leaves the scene. At this moment, what is observed is that the brother of the victim Rexhep Ismaili, Hajredin Ismaili, takes the weapon that his brother had and heads towards the people who had remained outside the bar. At this moment, Konsandin Vogli is observed limping and leaving from where he came with his 'Porsche' car. Where only the 'Audi' A8 remains at the scene while the other people run away. Likewise, the other motorcycle also leaves the scene.
The first person to be questioned in connection with the gunfight that occurred at the bar owned by the Ismaili brothers, where Rexhep Ismaili was killed and Konstandin Vogli was injured, was the victim's brother, Shahin Ismaili.
Who first told the investigative group how Viktor Ruçi joined them at the table in their cafe that evening.
"That evening I was at the gas station with my brother Rexhepi and we were talking about a compressor defect. Then I drove off and went to pick up a cousin of mine named Klodian Kroi, and then we both returned to our gas station to drink coffee.
"After a while, two other people arrived, specifically Tori Ruçi and Armand Kanushi. Then my brother Rexhepi joined us."
Shahin Ismaili further confessed that not long had passed when, from where he was sitting in the cafe with his friend Rexhep Ismaili and other people including them and Viktor Ruçi, he saw two cars stop in front of the cafe and several people 'armed' with baseball bats get out of there.
In whose hands he also noticed a firearm.
It wasn't long after we were seated that I saw two cars in front of the bar. One black and one gray.
Where several people got out of the cars carrying baseball bats and guns.
As these people headed towards the table where we were sitting, I stepped in front of one of them who was holding a gun in his hand and fought with him, telling him that I was Shahini. He told me: 'we have nothing to do with you'. I said: 'Who are you with, my brother?'
He replied that 'we have nothing to do with your brother', but he didn't tell me who.
Of all the people present, Shahin Ismaili identified only one of them, and that too through the pseudonym 'Lëkura' he used.
Meanwhile, they made it known that they had no problem with them as the owners of the bar, but with the person at the table with them, Viktor Ruçi.
"One of the people I know by the nickname 'Lëkura' tells me that 'we have nothing to do with you, but we have someone else'."
At this moment, one of the people fired three times with a pistol, and I saw my brother Rexhepi with a gun in his hand.
At this moment I heard gunshots and saw my brother lying on the ground.
"Then we put my brother in the car and brought him to the hospital."
Shahin Ismaili said that he does not know the people who came and attacked him at the bar by name, but he does know their faces.
He was able to tell the investigative group that the person with the nickname 'Lëkura' was from the village of Shën Vasil, and that they had no conflicts with anyone as brothers.
But he knew that the person who was in conflict with the aggressors was Viktor Ruçi.
This is because he had a bar in the Krorëz area, which had been broken into.
Another eyewitness who was questioned was the waiter of the bar where the clash that ended in the use of weapons took place.
"I am employed as a waiter at the Ismaili brothers' bar. That evening, at the table were Rexhep Ismaili, his brother Shahini, and three other people whose names I do not know. At the moment the shooting started, I was in the toilet for personal needs. Upon hearing the gunshots, I did not come out out of fear. After the shooting stopped, I went out but did not see anyone. Meanwhile, there were many people outside," said Ronaldo Muharremi.
Another person who was questioned as a person who had knowledge of the event was Klodian Kroi.
A person close to the Ismaili brothers, who was at the table with them at that moment when the clash with the group that came from outside the bar began.
"Initially, I, Shahini and Rexhepi were at the table. Then two other people joined, Viktor Ruçi and Armand Kanushi. After 40 minutes, two cars arrived in front of the bar, a black 'Audi' and in front of it another car that I don't remember. As well as another person on a motorbike who had a diving suit on his head. From what I saw, 6 or 7 people got out of the cars. They started cursing Viktor and threw stones at him," said Klodian Kroi.
Klodian Kroi further confessed that after they clashed verbally and physically with the large group that came from outside the bar, the situation quickly escalated into a gunfight.
Where the one who learned that he had died was Rexhep Ismaili, with whom he was also related by blood.
"At this moment, I entered the bar and Rexhepi and Shahini came out in front of me, who told them to leave their property. At one point, they retreated and were not shooting. Then I went to the other bar below. Then they started shooting again and I also heard gunshots. At this time, I hear someone say that they shot Rexhepi and I returned to the bar where we were at first. Meanwhile, the people who shot left in their cars, but I don't know what direction they took. Meanwhile, we took Rexhepi, put him in the car and headed for the hospital. Then I returned to get the phone at the bar, where I was accompanied by the police," he said.
Another person who experienced the horror of the gunfight at the bar was one of the late-night customers of the cafe owned by the Ismaili brothers.
Florian Piro, who escaped without injury, but who confessed what happened in those few minutes at the bar.
"I went to the Ismaili brothers' bar at 9:00 PM to watch the football match. When I went there, outside I found Rexhepi, his brother Shahini, a person named Klodi, another named Mandi and a bearded man I don't recognize. Within a few minutes, two cars arrived outside the bar. From where some people got out and started throwing stones at the bar and then sticks at the people there. At this moment I got under the table and didn't move until they left. Then I heard screaming and Rexhepi was lying on the ground, who was put in a car and taken to the hospital.
