Widow of Arkansas Airport Executive Sues ATF Over Fatal 2024 Raid

Maer Malinowski, the widow of Bryan Malinowski, the executive director of Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and several agents, alleging reckless and negligent conduct during a pre-dawn raid at their home in Little Rock in March 2024. The lawsuit claims the ATF agents failed to knock and announce their presence before forcibly entering, causing Bryan Malinowski—unaware he was under investigation for allegedly buying and reselling over 150 firearms without a dealer’s license—to believe intruders were breaking in, which led him to open fire. ATF returned fire, fatally wounding Malinowski, who died days later. The suit argues the agents' actions violated constitutional rights and resulted in a predictable and tragic outcome. Although a local prosecutor deemed the fatal shooting justified, the case has drawn criticism from Republican lawmakers demanding more transparency from the ATF. The legal team includes former U.S. Attorney Bud Cummins, and the lawsuit seeks damages and a jury trial, highlighting ongoing national scrutiny of federal law enforcement tactics.