More allegations surface after Clinton airport executive’s death during shootout with feds

The attorney for Bryan Malinowski’s family slammed the airport executive’s death as a “senseless tragedy” after the ATF released the redacted affidavit that led to a predawn shootout.

(Video: KARK)

Tuesday morning in Little Rock, Arkansas, agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) had arrived at the home of 53-year-old Malinowski to execute a search warrant. According to the affidavit made public Thursday, the ensuing firefight, that resulted in the executive director of the Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport sustaining fatal gunshot wounds, stemmed from alleged illegal gun sales by the decedent.

Described by the family attorney Bud Cummins to KARK as an investigation into whether or not Malinowski had “crossed a line between being a private citizen, entitled to buy and sell guns into a position where he legally should’ve gotten a federal firearms license,” the affidavit filed by an ATF agent contended that the suspect had purchased over 150 guns in the less than three-year span between May 2021 and Feb. 2024 which he proceeded to resell without an FFL.

“As of February 27, 2024, approximately six (6) firearms are known to have been recovered in the commission of a crime, with another three (3) recovered through undercover purchases by ATF. For each ATF Form 4473, for all recovered firearms sold by MALINOWSKI, MALINOWSKI indicated he was the actual purchaser of the firearms and that the firearms were intended for him. Each observation of MALINOWSKI, he was been driving the SUBJECT VEHICLE when operating as a vendor at a gun show, and when he purchased firearms,” read a portion of the affidavit.

Bryan Malinowski ATF Warran… by AmmoLand Shooting Sports News

While one of the firearms was said to have been in the possession of a California gang member, three of the weapons were recovered when the possessors were detained for suspected possession of marijuana.

“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,” a statement from Cummins read as one of the weapons was found in the hands of an individual convicted of robbery and prohibited from possessing a firearm.

“Even if the allegations in the affidavit are true, they don’t begin to justify what happened,” added the attorney as details in the affidavit noted that three firearms had been purchased from Malinowski by undercover ATF agents at Arkansas gun shows.

“For now, we will wait for all the facts to come out. In the meantime, we ask the public and the media respect our privacy.”

Speaking with KARK, Cummins added, “The loss of a loved one is always difficult, but the suddenness and the lack of explanation for why this had to happen has made this so much harder on the family. It would be difficult to convince me that there was any basis to come at 6 a.m., 45 minutes before first light, over an hour before sunrise, to a private home under these facts and circumstances.”

“If they really felt that strongly that he had violated it, they could’ve sent him a stern letter and told him he was in violation and told him to get a license,” said the attorney. “They could’ve called him on the phone or called his attorney and had him come in.”

“The tactics that ATF chose to execute this search warrant are outrageous for this level of accusation, this level of alleged violation with all the other facts and circumstances about the knowledge they had of this individual and his patterns, and his employment. There’s really no excuse for this,” said Cummins who indicated potential recourse included, “criminal prosecution and civil litigation, but until all the facts are in, it’s really too early to say what’s appropriate.”

Kevin Haggerty

Comment

We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.

Latest Articles