Four individuals lost their lives in a shooting incident in Montana, according to American media reports.
In the small town of Anaconda, Montana, a tragic shooting incident took place at The Owl Bar on August 1, 2025, at approximately 10:30 a.m. local time.
The suspect, identified as 45-year-old Michael Paul Brown, an Army veteran and local resident, is believed to have opened fire with a rifle, resulting in the deaths of four individuals—a female bartender and three male patrons aged between 59 and 74. The victims were identified as Daniel Edwin Ballie (59), Nancy Lauretta Kelly (64), David Allen Leach (70), and Tony Wayne Palm (74), all residents of Anaconda.
Brown was reportedly last seen leaving the bar shirtless and shoeless, fleeing the scene in a white Ford F-150 truck that was later found abandoned. Authorities have been searching the mountainous area west of Anaconda near Stumptown Road, focusing a multi-agency manhunt that includes local, state, and federal authorities.
Officials have described Brown as armed and dangerous, urging residents of the town of approximately 9,000 people to stay vigilant and remain indoors. The investigation is being led by the Montana Division of Criminal Investigation, with authorities believing Brown used his personal rifle in the attack and expressing concern about his instability and potential to return to the area.
Public anxiety has been high in nearby communities, with events being cancelled and businesses closing early due to safety concerns. Residents have expressed fear and devastation over the sudden violence in their hometown.
As of the early hours of August 3, 2025, Michael Paul Brown remains at large, and efforts to locate and apprehend him continue intensely. Anyone with information about his whereabouts is urged to contact authorities immediately.
- The tragic shooting at The Owl Bar in Anaconda, Montana, on August 1, 2025, has led to a heightened focus on general-news and crime-and-justice updates in the local area.
- In light of the ongoing manhunt for the suspect, Michael Paul Brown, politics in the small town of Anaconda, Montana, might temporarily take a backseat, as public safety becomes the primary concern.
