LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Earlier this week, Bryan Malinowski, the executive director of Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport in Little Rock was injured during a "shootout" as federal agents served a search warrant at his home. Malinowski died days later at the age of 53.
So, who is Bryan Malinowski, what happened during the shooting, and what does the affidavit say? Below, we discuss everything that we know so far about the incident.
Who is Bryan Malinowski?
Bryan Malinowski was a 16-year employee at Clinton National Airport. He joined the Clinton National management team in 2008 as director of properties, planning, and development.
In 2009 Malinowski was promoted to deputy director of the airport, then 10 years later he became executive director in 2019 — under Malinowski's leadership the airport saw "significant growth and success" according to Bill Walker, the Chair of the Little Rock Municipal Airport Commission.
Malinowski was described by his family as a "gun owner and gun enthusiast."
What happened during the shooting?
According to the ATF New Orleans Field Division, the incident happened on Tuesday, March 19 around 6:00 a.m., with ATF agents arriving at Malinowski's home in Little Rock to serve a federal search warrant.
As they were serving the warrant to Malinowski, he allegedly shot at the agents, striking one of them. That's when authorities said that a second agent then returned fire at Malinowski.
The agent who was shot was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Meanwhile, Malinowski was treated for his gunshot wounds by paramedics while at the scene and then taken to the hospital.
Malinowski died just days later on Thursday, March 21 at noon, according to Shane Carter, the director of public affairs and governmental relations for Clinton National Airport.
On Apr. 19, Senators Tom Cotton and John Boozman said they were told by officials at the Dept. of Justice that the ATF agents who conducted the raid were not wearing body cameras.
What does the affidavit say?
According to the affidavit given to us by the U.S. Attorney's Office, Malinowski purchased more than 150 guns between May 2021 and February 2024.
The affidavit said at least six of those firearms were later recovered in separate crimes across the U.S., while three more were bought in undercover purchases by the ATF.
He was put under active surveillance after the ATF Little Rock Field Office received a tip following Canadian officials receiving a photo of guns by a confidential informant. The serial numbers on some of the guns in the photos were traced back to Malinowski.
An affidavit said he would legally purchase the firearms, indicating on a form that the weapon was for personal use.
Malinowski would then reportedly resell those guns at gun shows. He has been accused of selling guns without proper licensure and not completing the proper steps when making a firearm sale.
Malinowski was accused by agents of selling guns without proper licensure and it was alleged that he was doing so without completing the appropriate paperwork when making a sale.
To read the full affidavit, click here.
Family statement
Malinowski's family said that he was "accused of making private firearm sales to a person who may not have been legally entitled to purchase the guns."
“At worst, Bryan Malinowski, a gun owner and gun enthusiast, stood accused of making private firearm sales to a person who may not have been legally entitled to purchase the guns,” the family said.
Malinowski, who did not have a dealer's license, is alleged to have resold guns as a vendor at a 2023 gun show in Conway, where he made several sales to subjects "without asking for any identification or paperwork," according to reports.
Malinowski's family called the shooting “an unspeakable tragedy and one that is almost impossible to understand.” The family said their thoughts and prayers go out to the government agent who was shot and his relatives.
The family also expressed concern about the allegations in the affidavit and said that even if true, they didn't justify the use of deadly force.
The names of any agents involved have not yet been released.