Arkansas airport director killed in shootout with federal agents amid weapons sales probe
An executive for the Little Rock, Arkansasairport was killed in a shootout with federal agents on Tuesday amid a weapons sales probe, authorities have said.
Bryan Malinowski, 53, who was executive director of Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport, was shot at his home after he opened fire at federal agents who arrived to serve a warrant at around 6am on Tuesday morning, officials said.
The 53-year-old died on Thursday, his family said, after being shot in the head.
An ATF agent was also shot and suffered non life-threatening injuries, according to state police.
Following the shootout, search warrant records unsealed on Thursday showed federal agents obtained a warrant as part of an investigation into Mr Malinowski for allegedly selling firearms without a license.
The investigation began in November when authorities in Canada received a photo of firearms from a confidential informant and after visible serial numbers showed they were bought by Mr Malinowski, according to an affidavit.
Investigators alleged that Mr Malinowski had bought more than 150 guns from May 2021 to 27 February this year, including AR-style pistols, and shipped them to a business that is redacted in the affidavit where he picked them up.
The affidavit alleges that he filled out ATF Form 4773, which warns that a gun can’t be for someone else and that the “repetitive purchase of firearms” in order to sell them for a profit without a licence is illegal, before the weapons were handed over to him.
The document also accuses Mr Malinowski of selling guns, including at gun shows. At one show, he was allegedly seen selling firearms to a customer without asking for any ID or paperwork.
