The wife of the former leader of Little Rock’s Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport is suing the federal government over his death.
Bryan Malinowski died in March 2024, days after being shot by agents of the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives who were conducting an early-morning raid on his house. Malinowski allegedly fired at agents, injuring one.
The 72-page lawsuit filed Thursday by Malinowski’s widow, Maer Malinowski, names the ATF as well as 10 agents involved in the March 2024 raid. It alleges the ATF acted recklessly in entering the Malinowski home without knocking and announcing their presence or waiting an appropriate amount of time before entering.
The suit seeks damages for Malinowski’s wrongful death, as well as for Maer Malinowski’s mental anguish and illegal detention by the ATF and Little Rock Police at the scene of the raid.
The ATF had been investigating Malinowski for making firearms sales without a license. The lawsuit alleges agents knew Malinowski had no history of violence, and used excessive force in conducting a pre-dawn raid at his house.
Malinowski’s case has drawn the attention of policymakers and Second Amendment advocates who accuse the ATF of selectively enforcing regulations on gun purchases. Malinowski was investigated for selling firearms at gun shows without a license, though the threshold for when someone must obtain a license to sell guns is unclear in federal law.
The lawsuit, which seeks a jury trial in the case, was filed Thursday in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas.
