A femicide that occurred in the Athens suburb of Nea Smyrni has drawn renewed attention to the suspect’s troubling past — including a prior arrest in Albania in 2016 for stalking and sexually harassing his then-wife. Greek authorities are now examining the nature of his relationship with the victim as part of their ongoing investigation.
Albanian Arrest Linked to Prior Abuse Allegations
According to Albanian media reports, the 48-year-old suspect had previously come under scrutiny by law enforcement in Tirana. At age 35, he was arrested in 2016 and charged under Article 121/A of Albania’s Criminal Code — which criminalizes ‘stalking’ or ‘harassment’. The Top Channel, an Albanian broadcaster, reported that he faced formal charges for monitoring and sexually harassing his former spouse at the time.
Reports indicate the suspect was married and had one child. Investigators in Greece are reviewing this background alongside other evidence to better understand the context and possible motives behind Sunday’s fatal attack.
Tragic Incident in Nea Smyrni
The incident unfolded in the early hours of Sunday in Nea Smyrni, a southern Athens municipality. A 45-year-old woman was found dead at the entrance of a residential apartment building where her daughter lives. Nearby, the 48-year-old suspect was also discovered deceased. Both victims sustained gunshot wounds.
Preliminary findings suggest the suspect had gone to the building and waited for the woman. When she arrived at the entrance, he allegedly shot her fatally before turning the weapon on himself.
Security camera footage from the building is expected to play a key role in the investigation, as it reportedly captured the suspect’s presence shortly before the shooting. Police have recovered the firearm used and are analyzing all available evidence to reconstruct the events leading up to the crime.
Social Media Clues Under Review
Investigators are also scrutinizing photographs posted by the suspect on social media. In several images, he appears holding a revolver; others show him practicing martial arts. Authorities are assessing whether the firearm visible in those photos matches the one used in the killing — though no confirmation has been made yet.
Meanwhile, police are working to clarify the exact nature of the relationship between the suspect and the victim. It remains unclear whether they were romantically involved, whether any recent conflict occurred, or if personal tensions may have precipitated the violence.
Family’s Shock and Confusion
The victim’s mother, visibly distraught, told reporters she had no knowledge of any recent romantic relationship involving her daughter. “I knew nothing. She hadn’t told me anything. I only learned about my daughter now,” she said, adding that her daughter had been separated from her ex-husband for many years.
Local residents described the moments immediately following the incident — a scene marked by shock and silence in what is typically a quiet neighborhood.