Executive from Arkansas airport under investigation for weapons sales killed in shootout

The executive director of Little Rock, Arkansas’ Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport, Bryan Malinowski, was fatally shot in a confrontation with federal agents. He had been under investigation for unlicensed gun sales. Malinowski reportedly opened fire on agents from the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) who arrived at his home to serve a search warrant. One ATF agent was injured in the incident, but their injuries were not life-threatening.

Search warrant records show that the investigation into Malinowski began in November. Canadian authorities had received a photo of firearms from a confidential informant, which had visible serial numbers indicating they were bought by Malinowski. The documents suggest that Malinowski had purchased over 150 guns between May 2021 and February 27, and sold guns at gun shows. Six of the guns were later recovered in the commission of a crime and undercover ATF agents purchased three others at gun shows.

No charges had been filed against Malinowski prior to the incident. The unsealed documents are said to relate to a search warrant looking for evidence. Malinowski’s family has expressed their sorrow and confusion over the tragedy, questioning why a dawn raid was conducted on a private home. The family also voiced their condolences for the injured agent and the agent’s family.

The Malinowski family claim that even if the allegations in the affidavit are true, they don’t justify what happened They argued that Bryan Malinowski was a gun enthusiast who, at worst, sold firearms privately to individuals who may not have been legally entitled to purchase the guns. The ATF affidavit states Malinowski would order guns online, including AR-style pistols, have them transferred to a business and would then pick them up. He allegedly filled out ATF forms incorrectly, warning that guns could not be for someone else and that buying firearms repetitively to sell for a profit without a license is illegal.

Malinowski was seen at gun shows operating as a vendor and selling guns without asking for identification or requiring paperwork, according to the report. The family has requested that the media and public respect their privacy while they wait for all the facts to be disclosed. Malinowski had been an employee of the airport for 16 years. The search warrant affidavit cites two laws as justification for conducting a search, one restricting commerce in guns to licensed dealers, and one about making false statements regarding the acquisition of firearms. More than 40 firearms, a vendor tag, ammunition, tax returns, and records were listed in the search warrant receipt.