LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Arkansas State Police are now assisting the ATF (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives) in investigating an incident where an ATF agent and another person were injured during a shooting exchange on Tuesday morning.
According to reports from the ATF New Orleans Field Division, at about 6:00 a.m., ATF agents arrived at a home on Durance Court in Little Rock to serve a federal search warrant.
As they were serving the warrant, the "subject in the investigation" now identified as 53-year-old Bryan Malinowski allegedly shot at the agents, striking one of them. That's when authorities said that a second agent then returned fire at the subject.
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.
On Thursday, Shane Carter, the director of public affairs and governmental relations for the Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport, announced that Malinowski died.
The Chair of the Little Rock Municipal Airport Commission, Bill Walker, shared this statement regarding the passing of Malinowski.
"With a heavy heart, we announce the passing of our executive director Bryan Malinowski," the statement read. "Bryan was a 16-year employee of the airport. Under his leadership, our airport has experienced significant growth and success, expanding services and offerings to our community and state. We extend our heartfelt condolences to Bryan's wife, Maer, loved ones, and friends.”
Malinowski worked at Clinton National Airport since 2008, serving as executive director since 2019.
Attorney Bud Cummins, acting as a spokesperson for the Malinowski family, released a statement on behalf of the family.
"Our family has endured an unspeakable tragedy and one that is almost impossible to understand," the Malinowski family said. "Our thoughts and prayers also go out to the government agent who was injured yesterday, and to his family. We do not understand the government's decisions which led to a dawn raid on a private home and triggered the use of deadly force."
The family said that Bryan Malinowski was a "gun owner and gun enthusiast," who was "accused of making private firearm sales to a person who may not have been legally entitled to purchase the guns."
The names of any agents involved have not yet been released.
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Arkansas is investigating this incident.
Clinton National Airport Commission Chairman Bill Walker released a statement announcing that Tom Clarke has been elevated from deputy executive director to acting executive director because of Malinowski's incident.
"Today's incident saddens us, and we pray for everyone involved," Walker said. "As the chairman of the Little Rock Municipal Airport Commission, I have named Tom Clarke, the airport's deputy executive director, as acting executive director. The airport's day-to-day operations continue as normal."
The investigation into this incident remains ongoing, and we will update with more info as soon as it becomes available.