Bryan Malinowski, the executive director of the Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport in Little Rock, Arkansas, tragically passed away on Thursday after being involved in a shootout with federal agents earlier in the week. The 53-year-old allegedly opened fire on agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives who were attempting to serve a search warrant at his home. In the exchange of gunfire, one ATF agent was injured but is expected to recover, while Malinowski was fatally wounded.

The redacted affidavit released on Thursday shed light on the investigation that led to the search warrant. It revealed that Malinowski had purchased over 150 guns between May 2021 and February 2024 and had allegedly resold many of them without a dealer's license. Some of the firearms he sold were later found to be connected to criminal activities. The affidavit also mentioned that Malinowski would sell guns at gun shows without asking for identification or paperwork, with some transactions taking place within 24 hours of purchase.

Malinowski's family released a statement expressing their disbelief and sorrow over the events that transpired. They mentioned that while they were concerned about the allegations against Malinowski, they did not believe that they justified the use of deadly force during the raid on their private residence. The family called Malinowski's death an "unspeakable tragedy" and extended their condolences to the injured ATF agent and their family.

The Arkansas State Police stated that the results of their investigation would be presented to a prosecuting attorney to determine if the use of deadly force was consistent with state law. Malinowski had been a dedicated employee of the airport for 16 years, serving as the executive director since 2019. The airport authorities praised his leadership and contributions to the growth and success of the airport, expanding services and offerings to the community and state.

The unsealed search warrant documents revealed that Malinowski had ordered guns online, including AR-style pistols, and sold them at gun shows without proper documentation. The family emphasized the need for all the facts to come out before passing judgment and requested privacy during this difficult time. The investigation into Malinowski's alleged illegal gun sales continues, with no charges filed against him as of now.