Latest news with #BryanMalinowski
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Yahoo
Attorney for widow of former Little Rock airport executive Bryan Malinowski discusses lawsuit against ATF over deadly 2024 raid & shooting
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – More than a year after his death, the family of former Little Rock Airport Director Bryan Malinowski is suing the ATF and agents who participated in the search warrant that resulted in his death. The lawsuit claims that the agents violated the Fourth and Fifth Amendments, as well as many other federal policies and state laws, before and after the search warrant. Attorney speaks on gun show loophole explained as cause for ATF raid on home of Bryan Malinowski Attorney Bud Cummins represents Bryan Malinowski's widow, Maer Malinowski, in the complaint. It states that on March 19, 2024, ATF agents with Little Rock Police turned on a siren for 1.5 seconds before turning off the siren and keeping on lights. Agents allegedly knocked on Malinowski's storm door and shouted for less than half a minute before deciding to break in those doors and the wooden door behind them. All of it happened shortly after 6 a.m. and an hour before sunrise. 'Never rang the doorbell. Knocked and waited 20 to 25 seconds before they started forcibly breaking open the door and never made an announcement again that they were police, who they were, and what their purpose was, and that's really where the constitutional violations occur,' Cummins said. Widow of former Little Rock airport executive Bryan Malinowski sues ATF over deadly 2024 raid shooting Cummins argued a reasonable search warrant execution would have given someone with no criminal record more time to get to the door. He said that when Malinowski awoke, he did not see police lights or hear anything but what he believed were intruders. When agents entered the home, Malinowski was a few feet from his bedroom and 30 feet down a hall to the agents' left. Malinowski shot one in the heel, the lawsuit states. Another agent returned fire, shooting Malinowski in the head. 'From the side where Bryan Malinowski saw intruders coming into his home, there were no markings that identified them as police, and they were not making any announcements that they were police,' Cummins said. D.C. lawmakers hold hearing on Little Rock Airport Executive Bryan Malinowski's death According to the suit, there was disorganization during the execution of the search warrant. The agent carrying a ballistic shield with 'POLICE' on it never entered the home when he was supposed to enter first. The agent who entered first instead told investigators, 'I think we were unprepared for the French doors.' Several other agents are quoted in the 72-page lawsuit. 'But for their planning and their execution, Bryan Malinowski would have been alive today. His death is completely attributable to the mistakes that are described in that complaint,' Cummins argued. The lawsuit also claims Malinowski's widow was wrongfully detained for hours with no legitimate reason. Neither she nor her husband had an arrest warrant for them, only a search warrant alleging Bryan Malinowski was selling firearms without a $200 license, which requires more record keeping of who guns are sold to. 'When there is no fact or circumstances to lead law enforcement to think there is risk of danger, risk of destruction of evidence, risk of fleeing, there is absolutely no reason to use these tactics, and by golly, if you are going to use them, you've got to do it right,' Cummins said. Attorney for family of Malinowski says 'It's far from over' after prosecutor declines to charge agents Last Summer, District Prosecuting Attorney Will Jones decided not to file charges against ATF agents, saying their use of force was justified. On Thursday, Jones said he had not read the new lawsuit and would not have anything additional to say regarding it. Cummins anticipates the trial will likely not be heard in 2025. Maer Malinowski also shared a statement following the lawsuit's filing. 'Today's lawsuit seeks justice for the nightmare I've been living for the last 14 months,' Maer Malinowski said in part. 'Bryan believed the men who broke into our home were intruders, and he took a bullet to the forehead and ultimately gave his life defending me and our home from people he thought were trying to harm us.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hamilton Spectator
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
Widow of Little Rock airport director killed in raid sues ATF over husband's death
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — The widow of an Arkansas airport director who was killed during a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives raid on his home last year sued the agency and several officials, claiming the agency and officers acted recklessly and negligently. Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport Executive Director Bryan Malinowski died days after he was shot when ATF agents were executing a warrant March 19, 2024, at his home in Little Rock. The ATF said Malinowski shot at agents, striking and injuring one, after which agents returned fire. An affidavit released after the shooting said the warrant was related to accusations that Malinowski bought over 150 guns between May 2021 and February 2024 and that he resold many without a dealer's license. In the lawsuit, filed in federal court in Little Rock, Maria 'Maer' Malinowski accused the ATF and 10 agents and task force officers of violating hers and her husband's constitutional rights. The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages and requested a jury trial. 'The Constitution requires reasonableness and, specifically here, that defendants both knock and announce their presence and purpose and wait a reasonable time before entry,' the lawsuit said. 'The ATF failed to do so, resulting in an entirely predictable, needless and tragic outcome.' The ATF said it does not comment on ongoing legislation. A local prosecutor last year said an ATF agent was justified in fatally shooting Bryan Malinowski. Malinowski's death prompted criticism from some Republican lawmakers in Arkansas who have called for more information from the ATF. Malinowski was a lifelong gun collector who would attend shows on weekends where he would buy, sell and trade with others, the lawsuit said. He did not know he was under investigation and reasonably believed the agents entering his home were intruders because they didn't knock and give him adequate time to come to the door, the complaint said. 'Today's lawsuit seeks justice for the nightmare I've been living for the last 14 months,' Maria Malinowski said in a news release.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Widow of Little Rock airport director killed in raid sues ATF over husband's death
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — The widow of an Arkansas airport director who was killed during a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives raid on his home last year sued the agency and several officials, claiming the agency and officers acted recklessly and negligently. Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport Executive Director Bryan Malinowski died days after he was shot when ATF agents were executing a warrant March 19, 2024, at his home in Little Rock. The ATF said Malinowski shot at agents, striking and injuring one, after which agents returned fire. An affidavit released after the shooting said the warrant was related to accusations that Malinowski bought over 150 guns between May 2021 and February 2024 and that he resold many without a dealer's license. In the lawsuit, filed in federal court in Little Rock, Maria 'Maer" Malinowski accused the ATF and 10 agents and task force officers of violating hers and her husband's constitutional rights. The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages and requested a jury trial. 'The Constitution requires reasonableness and, specifically here, that defendants both knock and announce their presence and purpose and wait a reasonable time before entry,' the lawsuit said. "The ATF failed to do so, resulting in an entirely predictable, needless and tragic outcome." The ATF said it does not comment on ongoing legislation. A local prosecutor last year said an ATF agent was justified in fatally shooting Bryan Malinowski. Malinowski's death prompted criticism from some Republican lawmakers in Arkansas who have called for more information from the ATF. Malinowski was a lifelong gun collector who would attend shows on weekends where he would buy, sell and trade with others, the lawsuit said. He did not know he was under investigation and reasonably believed the agents entering his home were intruders because they didn't knock and give him adequate time to come to the door, the complaint said. 'Today's lawsuit seeks justice for the nightmare I've been living for the last 14 months," Maria Malinowski said in a news release.
Winnipeg Free Press
15-05-2025
- Winnipeg Free Press
Widow of Little Rock airport director killed in raid sues ATF over husband's death
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — The widow of an Arkansas airport director who was killed during a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives raid on his home last year sued the agency and several officials, claiming the agency and officers acted recklessly and negligently. Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport Executive Director Bryan Malinowski died days after he was shot when ATF agents were executing a warrant March 19, 2024, at his home in Little Rock. The ATF said Malinowski shot at agents, striking and injuring one, after which agents returned fire. An affidavit released after the shooting said the warrant was related to accusations that Malinowski bought over 150 guns between May 2021 and February 2024 and that he resold many without a dealer's license. In the lawsuit, filed in federal court in Little Rock, Maria 'Maer' Malinowski accused the ATF and 10 agents and task force officers of violating hers and her husband's constitutional rights. The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages and requested a jury trial. 'The Constitution requires reasonableness and, specifically here, that defendants both knock and announce their presence and purpose and wait a reasonable time before entry,' the lawsuit said. 'The ATF failed to do so, resulting in an entirely predictable, needless and tragic outcome.' The ATF said it does not comment on ongoing legislation. A local prosecutor last year said an ATF agent was justified in fatally shooting Bryan Malinowski. Malinowski's death prompted criticism from some Republican lawmakers in Arkansas who have called for more information from the ATF. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. Malinowski was a lifelong gun collector who would attend shows on weekends where he would buy, sell and trade with others, the lawsuit said. He did not know he was under investigation and reasonably believed the agents entering his home were intruders because they didn't knock and give him adequate time to come to the door, the complaint said. 'Today's lawsuit seeks justice for the nightmare I've been living for the last 14 months,' Maria Malinowski said in a news release.
Washington Post
15-05-2025
- Washington Post
Widow of Little Rock airport director killed in raid sues ATF over husband's death
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — The widow of an Arkansas airport director who was killed during a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives raid on his home last year sued the agency and several officials, claiming the agency and officers acted recklessly and negligently. Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport Executive Director Bryan Malinowski died days after he was shot when ATF agents were executing a warrant March 19, 2024, at his home in Little Rock. The ATF said Malinowski shot at agents, striking and injuring one, after which agents returned fire.
