Ahmet Gashi- New York- 2006

(Above photo credit: amw.com archives)

Profile statistics as of July 23rd, 2014 (based on 2008 amw.com archvied profile):

Sex: Male
Race: White
Current Age: 33-35
Height: 6' 0"
Weight: 155 lbs.
Hair (Color, Description, Facial Hair):Brown
Last Seen:Bronx , NY. Gashi was last seen leaving the Moonlight Bar in the Bronx on Dec. 31, 2007.
Other Possible Locations: New York
Who to call if you've seen him: Based on wanted location, our advice would be to call NYPD Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS. You can also submit a tip to them by clicking on this link: a056-crimestoppers.nyc.gov/crimestoppers/public/tip-form.cfm


A Boxer's Tough Fighting Instincts

According to his friends and family, Kemal Kolenovic, a one-time New York State welterweight boxing champion, was a man of principle -- a cherished virtue in the Belmont section of the Bronx, traditionally known as the borough's "Little Italy," and now home to a growing Albanian community.

So in the early morning hours of December 31, 2006, when a group of his fellow Albanians began fighting at a neighborhood night spot, police say it was Kolenovic who stepped in, trying to restore order.

For his efforts, cops say Kolenovic was mowed down by an SUV driven by Ahmet Gashi, a man described as a local punk who -- according to law enforcement -- took Kolenovic's life while his back was turned.

Bitter Brawler Caught On Tape

What makes the situation even more intriguing is the fact that many Albanians subscribe to the Code of Leke Dukagjini, a set of laws first handed down in the 15th Century -- specifying that the blood of a slain relative should be avenged with the blood of the killer's family.

"My family goes by that," admits Elvir Muriqi, Kolenovic's close friend and fellow boxer known as the "Kosovo Kid," after the primarily Albanian region that recently declared its independence from Serbia. "But Kemal's family doesn't want revenge. They want to work with the police."

The break with time-honored conventions can be explained by Kolenovic's great love of his adopted country. "If you went to his funeral, you would have seen the type of person he was," says uncle Tony Mujovic. "His friends were Spanish-speaking, black, white, all religions, all races. You don't find the old ways (violent ethnic rivalries) here. And that's why he believed in the system."

Gashi, an unemployed porter who once helped run a social club, apparently lived by a different standard. In addition to his alleged involvement in Kolenovic's death, Gashi faces an outstanding warrant for sexual assault in an unrelated case.

"He's not a good guy," notes Det. Glenn Joyce of the NYPD's 48th Precinct.

A Deadly Bronx Skirmish

The 28-year-old Kolenovic was hanging out with his uncle at the Moonlight Bar and Restaurant when an argument broke out nearby. Allegedly, Gashi was among a group shouting about whose clan was the toughest in the Old Country. As a legitimate tough guy, who'd acquired a record of 10-6-2 -- with five knockouts -- in the ring, Kolenovic had little interest in a barroom skirmish. Police say he patiently urged Gashi to calm down, even buying the man a drink.

But when the fight spilled out of the club, Kolenovic followed. Again, police say, his motive appeared to be calming the tensions.

Authorities claim that after wielding both a knife and baseball bat, Gashi seemed to leave the scene. Concerned for his uncle's safety, Kolenovic had just ordered the man back into the club when Gashi's vehicle allegedly jumped the curb, slamming into the boxer from the rear.

"There was a crowd of four or five people that he was aiming for," Joyce says, "and Kemal was the only one who didn't move out of the way."

According to witnesses, the blow sent Kolenovic flying into a tree. "I think his head was split in half," says Mujovic, who was the first to come upon his nephew's mangled body.

Although the damaged SUV was eventually recovered, Gashi has dropped out of sight.

"I'm still in shock," Kolenovic's mournful mother, Sanija, told AMW through a translator. "My son was a professional boxer. He didn't fight in the street. I can't believe that he's dead. He was too young."

Immediately, many feared a blood feud between the Kolenovic and Gashi clans. Not long after the murder, both families apparently met at a mosque. There, according to Kolenovic's relatives, the Gashis pledged to turn over Ahmet to the police if they found him.

However, several of his closest relatives have since left the Bronx -- apparently fearing reprisals.

"They're in no danger from us," Mujovic emphasizes. "We believe in God, and believe in the law. I want this man to go to prison for the rest of his life."

Nonetheless, Gashi may actually be avoiding communities with large concentrations of Albanians, seeking out the company of Latinos instead.

Kemal Kolenovic, 28, who was originally from Montenegro, was an aspiring professional boxer. Kemal once held the New York State welterweight crown, and although his record was less than remarkable, he'd recently scored a first round knockout over Ronny Glover when he arranged to meet his uncle at the Moonlight Bar and Restaurant on New Year's Eve, 2006.

While Kemal was enjoying the night out with family and friends, another group of Europeans started arguing about which Albanian surnames were most associated with tougher and generally superior people. The fight spilled outside where Kemal was waiting for his uncle. When the fight started getting physical, Kemal's fighter instincts kicked in, and he tried to break up the fight.

But, there was another man who harbored completely different intentions. Police say Ahmet Gashi wielded a knife during the fight, but had it wrestled from his hands. They say he then ran to his sport utility vehicle, and snatched a bat. Again, the weapon was grappled away from him, but Gashi wasn't through. Cops claim he returned to his truck, turned on the ignition, jumped the curb and made a turn on the sidewalk, gunning for the crowd. On the surveillance tape from the bar, cops say you can see Kemal standing with his back to the crowd and then in an instant, a dark vehicle comes speeding towards him. Kemal was thrown thirty feet into a tree head first. He died while being transported to the hospital by ambulance.

Authorities say cameras caught Gashi as he drove away in his black Mitsubishi Montero with damage to the front end of his vehicle.

Since the incident, the SUV has been recovered, but police are still searching for Gashi. Locals believe Gashi is originally from the Bronx and a frequent at the Moonlight Bar and Restaurant.

Thoughts? This case was aired at least three times on AMW according to the last archived profile I found. And at least a few of those were as a full-profile. I remember how anguished Kemal's family was when they showed his memorial on AMW. It makes me all the more frustrated Gashi still does not appear to have been caught. Interestingly, AMW's last archived profile doesn't mention Albania but only New York as a possible location. Albania has a relatively decent extradition treaty with the U.S. I've read about them sending fugitives back as long as the U.S. doesn't seek the death penalty (moot point in New York since it doesn't have the death penalty). The problem is AMW never actually caught a fugitive from Albania so hopefully Gashi is still in the states to increase the odds he may one day be caught. Kemal had a very promising boxing career that was cut short in the most senseless manner possible.


web.archive.org/web/20100808005941/http://www.amw.com/fugitives/brief.cfm?id=45323

UPDATE: It has now been four years since our last posting and I can not find any recent articles or updates about the manhunt for Ahmet Gashi. As far as I can tell, Gashi is still at large as of this update (7/21/2018) since I have found nothing online suggesting otherwise. However, if anyone has any updates/proof-of-updates one way or the other, they are always more than welcome to let us know.

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