A peaceful small town in Montana has been shaken by tragedy after a military veteran allegedly opened fire inside a local bar, killing four people. As of Monday, the manhunt continues for Michael Paul Brown, 45, who is accused of committing the mass shooting at The Owl Bar in Anaconda on Friday morning. Authorities warn that Brown is armed and dangerous, and have offered a $7,500 reward for any information that could lead to his arrest.
What Happened in Anaconda
On Friday, August 2, just after 10 a.m., authorities say Brown entered The Owl Bar, a familiar local hangout, and shot four people dead. All victims were longtime residents of Anaconda:
Daniel Edwin Baillie, 59
Nancy Lauretta Kelly, 64
David Allen Leach, 70
Tony Wayne Palm, 74
Investigators believe Brown knew all four victims, having been a regular at the bar and a neighbor to at least one of them.
Authorities still haven’t confirmed a motive. One local, Owl Bar owner David Gwerder, said, “He knew everybody that was in that bar… I just think he snapped.”
Where Is Michael Paul Brown Now?
Brown fled the scene in a white pickup truck, which he later abandoned. Authorities believe he stole another vehicle, which contained camping gear, clothing, and shoes—suggesting he may now be better equipped and dressed than he was in a widely circulated photo showing him barefoot in black shorts fleeing the scene.
Search teams are combing the rugged mountains southwest of Anaconda, an area where Brown used to hunt and camp as a child. Due to the risk he poses, National Forest lands in the region have been closed to the public during the search.
Who Was Michael Paul Brown?Brown is a U.S. Army veteran who served as an armor crewman from 2001 to 2005, including a deployment to Iraq. He later joined the Montana National Guard and served until 2009, leaving the military with the rank of sergeant.
His niece, Clare Boyle, and others in the family say Brown struggled with mental health, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). They claim they repeatedly tried to get him help over the years.
“This isn’t just a drunk/high man going wild,” Boyle said. “It’s a sick man who doesn’t know who he is sometimes.”
Community in Shock
Anaconda is a tight-knit community of around 9,000 people, located 25 miles from Butte. Residents are shaken, not just by the violence, but by the fact that it happened in a place where “everybody knows everybody.”
One local, David Jabarek, says he narrowly avoided being inside the bar during the attack. “If I’d have been in there when I was supposed to be, you wouldn’t be talking to me,” he said.
Another resident, Robert Wyatt, described one of the victims, David Leach, as quiet, helpful, and kind. Leach, who was deaf, lived in public housing and was known to assist neighbors with household chores.
Law Enforcement Response
Multiple local, state, and federal agencies are involved in the search for Brown. Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen described him as a dangerous and unstable individual, warning the public to remain cautious.
“This is an unstable individual who murdered four people in cold blood for no reason,” Knudsen said. “There absolutely is concern for the public.”
Knudsen also acknowledged that resources are stretched thin, particularly during tourist season, but emphasized that the search remains a top priority.
As the manhunt continues, residents in Anaconda remain on edge, and a community mourns the loss of four beloved locals. Authorities are urging anyone with information to come forward, and they stress that Brown should not be approached.
This tragedy is yet another reminder of the importance of accessible mental health support, particularly for military veterans, and the unpredictable nature of untreated mental illness. While law enforcement works tirelessly to find Brown, the town of Anaconda grieves—and waits for justice.
