The execution of a federal law enforcement search warrant last month, which resulted in the fatal shooting of an airport executive, has prompted both senators from Arkansas to demand clarification from the Justice Department.

In regards to the demise of Bryan Malinowski, the executive director of the Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport in Little Rock, Sens. Tom Cotton (R-AR) and John Boozman (R-AR) are conducting inquiries to find some answers, as The New York Post reported.

The 19th of March shooting death of Malinowski took place while Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) agents attempted to execute a search warrant at his residence.

The Incident Leading to Death

The ATF reported that Malinowski, 53, was fatally wounded days after a gunfire exchange with agents.

“The Department of Justice confirmed to us last night that the ATF agents involved in the execution of a search warrant of the home of Bryan Malinowski weren’t wearing body cameras,” Cotton and Boozman said in a joint statement.

“We will continue to press the Department to explain how this violation of its own policy could’ve happened and to disclose the full circumstances of this tragedy.”

“Mr. Malinowski’s family and the public have a right to a full accounting of the facts,” the Republican lawmakers added.

Required Footage

ATF policy requiring the use of body cameras during the execution of search warrants was implemented in 2022, according to Bud Cummins, the legal representative for the Malinowski family.

“This policy provides parameters for the use of BWCs [body-worn cameras] by TFOs [task force officers] to the extent that a state or local law enforcement agency requires their use by its officers during federal task force operations,” states a Department of Justice memo dated June 2, 2022.

Breonna Taylor, an EMT worker from Louisville, Kentucky, was fatally shot while officers attempted to execute a search warrant, according to Cummins, who stated that the policy was developed as a response to that incident.

“It is astounding for ATF to now claim they simply ignored this clear policy. It obviously raises more questions than it answers,” Cummins told Fox News Digital.

Malinowski allegedly opened fire on agents during the early morning hours as they attempted to serve the warrant.  The shooting resulted in non-life-threatening injuries to an agent, but Malinowski passed away two days after being struck in the the skull by retaliatory gunfire.

“As is standard practice, this matter is under review by state and local authorities in Arkansas,” Kristina Mastropasqua, an ATF spokesperson, told Fox News Digital. “The Department of Justice does not comment on pending matters.”

Reason for Entry

Authorities stated that Malinowski was under investigation for allegedly selling firearms without a license, some of which were utilized in offenses. Malinowski purportedly acquired over 150 firearms from May 2021 to February 27, 2024, subsequently reselling them.

It has been alleged that Malinowski lawfully acquired the firearms and marked a box on the purchase forms indicating that the firearms were intended for him. He purportedly resold the firearms at gun fairs, where he operated as a vendor.

“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,” Malinowski’s family said days after he died.