Reason for raid on Bill and Hillary Clinton Airport exec’s home where he was killed in shootout with feds revealed

The executive director of the Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport who was killed in a shootout with federal agents raiding his Arkansas home was illegally dealing guns, according to a newly released affidavit explaining the raid.

Bryan Malinowski, 53, was being actively investigated for buying and reselling more than 150 guns between May 2021 and February 2024 without a dealer’s license, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) stated in a heavily redacted affidavit made public Thursday.

About six of them were found after being linked to a crime, and undercover federal agents bought three more from Malinowski at Arkansas gun shows, according to the affidavit.

Malinowski bought the firearms legally and checked a box on the purchase form to say they were for himself, according to the document. He would then resell them in as little as 24 hours.

Malinowski’s family said that even if the allegations detailed in the ATF affidavit warrant are true, they didn’t justify the use of deadly force against him during an early-morning raid Tuesday at his home in Little Rock, close to the airport he ran.

“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,” the family said through an attorney.

Malinowski was shot during an exchange of gunfire with ATF agents trying to serve the search warrant and died from his injuries at noon on Thursday, his employer confirmed.

An ATF agent was also shot but the wound was not life-threatening, officials said

Before the Tuesday raid, the feds had planted a tracker on Malinowski’s SUV and were trailing him, at times prompting him to drive erratically, according to the affidavit.

Malinowski joined the management team at the Arkansas airport in 2008 as director of properties, planning and development before being promoted to deputy director a year later.

He took over as Clinton National’s executive director in 2019, earning an annual base salary of close to $264,000, making him the highest-paid official working for the city of Little Rock, reported Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.

“Bryan was a 16-year employee of the airport,” Bill Walker, chair of the Little Rock Municipal Airport Commission, said in the statement.

“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’s brother, Matthew Malinowski, told Fox News Digital he found it improbable that his brother, whom he described as an avid gun collector, would be involved in anything illegal, considering his apparent financial security.

“When you’re in that position, life is great,” he said. “Why would you screw it up with a small infraction?” He always kept his nose clean.”