Albanian couple killed in murder-suicide immigrated to US

JANESVILLE, Sep 1 – A couple killed in an apparent murder-suicide had emigrated from Albania, and neighbors and friends say they saw no sign of trouble between the couple.
Police say Rexhep Menxhiqi, 54, shot his wife, Shukrije Menxhiqi, 38, and then shot himself with a handgun about 9 a.m. Saturday. The couple, who lived at the Wisconsin, USA residence since 2000 or 1999, had five children, ages 9 through 20.
Four were home at the time and called police. They were not wounded.
The couple’s 18-year-old daughter tried to intervene and help her mother after she heard gunshots, said Lt. Tim Hiers, head of the police department’s detective bureau.
Police were still sorting out whether the children had witnessed the shootings, Hiers said.
There had been no prior police contacts at the residence for domestic violence, Hiers said. Also, neither alcohol nor drugs appear to be factors, he said.
Police chaplains and child protective services officials were working to help the children and other relatives deal with what happened. But Hiers noted that the family’s primary responsibilities now fall on the two adult children.
Shukrije worked at Monterey Mills, and Rexhep would buy, repair and sell cars, Alice Shetler said.
The Menxhiqis’ nearest extended relatives appear to live in the family’s native Albania, Hiers said.