A top executive at the Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport was shot in the head during a gunfight with federal agents conducting a search warrant at his home.
Bryan Malinowski, 53, the executive director at the Little Rock, Arkansas airport, was shot when gunfire erupted at his home in West Little Rock around 6 a.m.
The Arkansas State Police said Malinowski “was injured with gunshot wounds and treated on scene by paramedics before being transported to a local hospital.”
Malinowski’s brother, Matthew Malinowski, told NBC News:
“Something stinks to high hell.”
Family members rushed to Malinowski’s side, where his last rites were given to the wounded airport administrator.
“We don’t know if he’s going to make it in the next 24 hours,” Matthew told NBC at his brother’s bedside. “He was shot in the head.”
Doctors placed Malinowski on life support but didn’t perform surgery “because they don’t think he’s going to make it,” his brother said.
According to reports, the airport executive was an avid collector of guns, weapons, and coins.
“When someone makes that much money, there’s no incentive to do anything wrong,” the brother added. “He has so much to lose.”
The New York Post reported:
One agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives suffered a non-life threatening gunshot wound during the ATF’s early morning federal search warrant.
Neighbors of Malinowski reported watching guns and ammunition being taken from the Durance Court home before being loaded onto a trailer as firefighters brought in crowbars and circular saws to cut metal inside the residence, according to KARK.
The quiet cul-de-sac was shocked to hear the shooting before witnessing emergency vehicles swarm the neighborhood.
“I heard about five or six, like, loud bangs,” Shea De Bruyn allegedly told the outlet.
“My heart was racing and the dogs were barking.” the startled neighbor added.
“I’m just really curious as to what was going on just a few houses down.”
“An investigative case file will be presented to the prosecuting attorney, who will determine whether the use of deadly force was consistent with Arkansas law,” the ASP added in its statement.
Malinowski joined the Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport in 2008 and was promoted to deputy director in 2009, according to his biography on the airport website.
