Gjin Kolbucaj, 41, is listed in critical condition at St. Joseph's Medical
Center in Clinton Township. Sterling Heights police Lt. Michael Reese said
Kolbucaj shot himself after killing his wife, Lula Kolbucaj, 39, in the family
room of their two-bedroom condominium in the 13000 block of Bonnington.
Kolbucaj is expected to survive, police said.
Their two young children were in elementary school at the time of the
shootings, police said.
The Plumcreek Condominium Complex is located north of Metropolitan Parkway,
just east of Schoenherr Road.
Reese said police received a call at 11:30 a.m. Friday from neighbors saying
they heard shots fired. The police dispatcher made phone contact with Kolbucaj,
who allegedly said he had just shot his wife and himself.
When police arrived at the condo they noticed the rear doorwall was
shattered. Police entered the condo and saw Mrs. KolbucajÌs blood-covered body
on the floor. Police said it appeared she had been shot numerous times.
Police said Kolbucaj was lying next to her with two self-inflicted gunshot
wounds to his chest. Police found a 9 mm handgun next to Kolbucaj.
The couple's Jeep and Dodge vehicles were parked in front of their condo.
Police obtained a search warrant and examined both vehicles.
"This is very sad," Reese said. "The two youngsters now will not have a
mother nor a father."
Reese said a neighbor called police when she heard the gunshots. Other
neighbors said they heard gunshots, but they thought it was construction workers
pounding on a roof.
"I thought the kid next door was hammering and then I heard more noise,"
neighbor Madlyn Ellul said. "I found out what happened but thought nothing like
this ever happens in Sterling Heights."
Neighbors said Kolbucaj worked for the past eight months at a plastics plant
in the area, and his wife cleaned beauty salons. They said the Kolbucajs didn't
socialize much, but their children were the talk of the neighborhood.
"They have two very sweet kids," Ellul said. "Little Michael and Antoinette
used to come over here all of the time to play with my cat. They are the nicest
kids you would ever want."
Ellul said the family appeared very close-knit.
"They were pretty quiet neighbors," said Ray Barbeau. "Their kids were well
behaved. The kids had beautiful manners and they were beautiful kids."
Julie Condo has lived in Plumcreek for 30 years. She said she felt
heartbroken when she looked outside and saw all of the police.
"Lula was a very beautiful person," Condo said. "Both Jim (husband) and Lula
loved their kids. They always bought the kids any toy they wanted."
Two years ago the family flew to Albania and spent three weeks visiting
family and friends, neighbors said. They were selling the condo so that they
could buy a bigger house.
Man accused of slaying wife
