The Brooklyn neighborhood of Ditmas Park is grieving the death of 41-year-old Burim Havolli, an Albanian father of three and longtime building super, who was killed while trying to stop a suspected package thief who had been targeting his tenants for months. Havolli, originally from the Llap region of Kosovo and a survivor of the 1999 war, spent 16 years caring for the residents of his Ocean Avenue building — only to lose his life protecting them.

The fatal encounter happened around 8 a.m. on Wednesday, when Havolli confronted a 30-year-old man allegedly stealing a tenant’s package. Witnesses and police sources say the confrontation turned violent when the suspect struck Havolli repeatedly in the head with a cellphone. The father of three collapsed moments later and was rushed to Kings County Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The suspect, who has at least three prior arrests for burglary and assault, is currently in custody as authorities determine formal charges.

For those who lived in the building, Havolli was more than a superintendent — he was a guardian. Tenants describe him as humble, generous, and deeply protective, the first person they called whenever something broke, whenever crime crept too close, or whenever they needed help. “He helped everyone — everyone, no matter who they were” his brother Blerim told FOX 5 NY. “He died saving the tenants’ building.”

His death has devastated the family he worked tirelessly to support. Burim leaves behind three young children — all under the age of eight. His two-year-old son, relatives said, keeps asking why there are so many people around and pleading: “Where is my daddy? Call him, call him.”

The tragedy struck just two days after Havolli returned from Kosovo, where he had gone to visit his ill mother. His brother says the family had survived the Kosovo war together before seeking safety in the United States. “He loved this country. This country helped us so much,” Blair said through tears. Meanwhile, residents have created a memorial of candles, flowers, and handwritten notes outside the building entrance — a quiet tribute to the man who made the halls feel safe.

Co-workers and neighbors say package theft had become a serious, ongoing problem. Thieves frequently buzzed random apartments to slip inside, and Havolli had become increasingly frustrated by the rising crime. “He was the best guy — working very hard, always trying to help,” said a porter who worked alongside him for 17 years. Another tenant, Jeff Fisher, said, “This is a constant problem in the building, and for something like this to happen — it’s truly a tragedy.”

Now, the building he protected is left without the man who dedicated his life to keeping it safe. His family says his body will be flown back to Kosovo, where he will be laid to rest in his hometown in the coming days — a final journey back to where his life first began, before war pushed him across an ocean in search of peace.