A model shot her husband five times before turning the gun on herself in a shocking murder-suicide on a high-rise balcony.
Sabrina Kasniqi, 27, gunned down Pajtim Kasniqi, 34, on the 45th floor of the Beach Club II Hallandale luxury condo tower overlooking Hallandale Beach, north of Miami, at about 12.30am on Wednesday.
The couple’s bodies could be seen lying on the balcony next to apartment 4508, as police searched inside and blood dripped over the edge onto lower balconies.
Pajtim was part of a large Albanian family that immigrated to the US from Peja in Kosovo, and his wife’s family was also originally from the Balkan country.
Sabrina was a model under her maiden name, Sabrina Dzaferovic, and the couple lived in Astroia, Queens, in New York City.
Pajtim’s large family, whose nephew told DailyMail.com they didn’t know why he was killed, mourned him online and lashed out at his wife.
‘My Thanksgiving Eve wasn’t spent with my husband and children. It wasn’t spent with friends,’ his sister Albana Munrett wrote.
Sabrina Kasniqi, 27, shot her husband five times before turning the gun on herself in a shocking murder-suicide
Pajtim Kasniqi, 34, was gunned down by his wife, shot five times in the chest
The couple’s bodies could be seen lying on the balcony on the 45th floor of the Beach Club II Hallandale luxury condo tower overlooking Hallandale Beach, north of Miami
‘It was spent with police officers, detectives and news reports talking about the vicious and senseless murder of my youngest brother by his wife.
‘Pajtimi’s wife chose to take my brother’s life away from him when she shot five bullets into his chest. The person he trusted the most, the person he chose to spend his life with was the one who took his away from him.
‘She betrayed him, his love and his trust. She shattered my family. My siblings and I will never be the same. I’m terrified my mother will not ever recover.’
Another sister, Adriana, added: ‘How am I gonna bury my baby brother?’
Childhood Rudy Kelmendi wrote that memories of their school days together were playing in his head since he heard of Pajtimi’s death.
‘All the laughter, the meals we ate, cutting class to play basketball in the snow covered courts, riding on the dump truck to hunts point to unload dirt, splashing Bronx science students with your M5 when it rained, and so many more,’ he wrote.
A huge bloodstain where one of the bodies was before it was removed. Blood dripped over the edge onto lower balconies as police searched inside
Police search inside the condo looking for clues
Sabrina was a model under her maiden name, Sabrina Dzaferovic, and the couple lived in Astoria, Queens, in New York City
Sabrina poses in one of many modeling photos she posted online
Sabrina was featured in a 2021 report by Inside Edition where she walked around Times Square in NYC to see how many men would catcall her if she was wearing a mask.
‘It’s kind of disturbing because I don’t feel safe and I don’t feel comfortable… It just makes you have the heebie-jeebies,’ she said.
‘That would be the last guy I would ever go on a date with.’
Police were alerted to the crime by an alert from ShotSpotter, a gunfire detection program, and rushed to the scene to find the couple dead.
‘Advising that both people are down on the balcony. Female on her back, one male on his face on the balcony,’ a dispatcher was recorded saying by Broadcastify.
Footage of the police investigating showed a teddy bear, a box of roses with a heart on it, and the TV still blaring.
Pajtim’s family said he was a devoted brother, son, uncle, and friend with a love of life ‘that few could ever hope to replicate’.
‘He was a fighter. He was one of the mentally toughest people I have ever had the privilege of knowing,’ the said in a joint statement.
Pajtim with his brother Benny Krasniqi, part of a large Albanian family from Kosovo
Pajtim with his brothers in a throwback photo from 2015 posted as his family mourned him
‘After sustaining a devastating motorcycle accident in 2018, he was determined to not allow the doctors to amputate his leg, despite all the evidence this was the best path forward.
‘Knowing full well saving his leg would lead to multiple surgeries, pain, and long recovery times, he met the challenge head on.
‘He further disregarded doctors orders and refused to take his pain medication during each of his surgery recoveries as he refused to become addicted to the medications.
‘Facing unfathomable odds and despite those multiple surgeries and long healing times, he never complained. He never acted out. He took it all in stride.
‘His strength and determination was infectious to those of us who knew him and will forever be a source of strength and pride for our family.
‘He loved his nieces and nephews without parallel. It brings great joy to remember him smiling, laughing and playing with the children. He was always the first to want to take them for ice cream, treat them to a movie or simply play around the house.’
The Hallandale Beach Police Department ruled their deaths a murder-suicide, but did not indicate a motive.
Pajtim’s sister Albana Munrett (right) lashed out at Sabrina online after his death
Pajtim was part of a large Albanian family that immigrated to the US from Peja in Kosovo
‘Through the investigation, it has been determined that Sabrina Krasniqi fatally shot her husband multiple times before taking her own life. The incident occurred within their shared residence,’ it said.
‘The HBPD extends its deepest condolences to the family and loved ones impacted by this heartbreaking incident.’
Building management company FirstService Residential said it was aware of and greatly saddened by the shooting.
‘We are fully cooperating with authorities in this ongoing investigation, which they believe to have been an isolated incident. The safety and security of our residents remain our top priority,’ it said.