Neighbors shocked by shootout at home of Little Rock airport executive director
LITTLE ROCK, Ark – Neighbors were in the dark Tuesday morning as the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives arrived at 4 Durant Court to serve a warrant at the home of the executive director of the Clinton National Airport.
It was around 6 a.m. when its operation to serve a federal search warrant went sideways. Shea De Bruyn woke up to gunfire across the street.
“I heard about five or six, like, loud bangs,” De Bruyn said.
According to Arkansas State Police and ATF, Bryan Malinowski, the executive director of the Clinton National Airport, was being served a federal search warrant when he shot toward ATF, and they returned fire.
The airport director was shot at least twice as authorities said he suffered gunshot wounds. Police said an ATF agent was shot once with non-life-threatening injuries. Both were sent to nearby hospitals.
De Bruyn said she witnessed an ambulance, firetruck and multiple law enforcement agencies swarmed the cul-de-sac and adjacent street
“My heart was racing and the dogs were barking.” De Bruyn said. “I’m just really curious as to what was going on just a few houses down.”
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Even with an explanation given by authorities, she has questions.
“I talked to other neighbors and all of us are just confused,” De Bruyn said.
By evening, neighbors spotted guns and ammunition being carried into a trailer from the residence after Little Rock Fire Fighters carried a circular saw, crowbars, and other equipment used to cut through metal into the residence.
An investigation is ongoing into whether the use of deadly force was justified.
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KARK 4 News contacted the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Arkansas to try and obtain a copy of the original warrant to learn what it was for but one was not provided.
“I’ve only heard good things about the lady that lives there, and it’s just sad to hear that this has happened,” De Bruyn concluded.
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