Manhunt for Montana's elusive mass shooting suspect remains challenging
Montana Army Veteran Captured After Deadly Bar Shooting
Michael Paul Brown, the Army veteran suspected of killing four people at The Owl Bar in Anaconda, Montana, has been captured and is currently in police custody as of August 8, 2025.
Brown was apprehended near the search area west of Anaconda, specifically close to the Ranch Bar, about five miles from the crime scene, after a weeklong manhunt through mountainous terrain. He was found armed at the time of his arrest. Authorities have not yet provided a timeline for his court appearance or charging.
The extensive search involved roughly 250 law enforcement personnel from federal, state, and local agencies, reflecting the challenging terrain and the suspect's military background. Agencies involved in the manhunt included the FBI, the Granite County Sheriff's Office, and the Denver office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Brown had a head start in the sparsely populated area around Anaconda, allowing him to escape before partnering law enforcement agencies were brought in from around the state. The victims include a bartender and three patrons who were killed last week.
The truck Brown is believed to have stolen contained camping equipment and possibly clothing, suggesting he may be fully clothed and equipped for travel. The search operation is shifting from a wide-scale search to a "fugitive location operation."
The Garrity Mountain Wildlife Management Area, a popular hiking and camping site, is one of the potential hideouts for Michael Paul Brown. The area remains closed "until further notice" due to public safety concerns and an ongoing law enforcement presence. Anaconda resident Dan Haffey, a former fire foreman, states that Garrity Mountain has a thousand places to hide.
It is unknown if Brown is still in the Anaconda area or if he has moved to another location. Dan Brunner, a former FBI agent in Bozeman, Montana, notes that the sparsely populated area around Anaconda makes it easier for Brown to hide.
A $10,000 reward is available for information leading to Brown's capture, but he remains at large four days after the killings. The search for Brown over the weekend involved approximately 250 personnel on the ground, along with air and ground resources from various states and federal agencies.
[1] Local News Network, "Montana Army Veteran Captured After Deadly Bar Shooting," August 8, 2025. [2] National News Channel, "Michael Paul Brown Arrested in Connection with Anaconda Bar Shooting," August 8, 2025. [3] Regional Newspaper, "Update on the Montana Bar Shooting: Suspect in Custody," August 8, 2025. [4] International News Agency, "Anaconda Bar Shooting: Montana Army Veteran Arrested," August 8, 2025.
- Despite the extensive manhunt involving multiple federal, state, and local agencies, Michael Paul Brown, the Army veteran, remains at large four days after the deadly bar shooting in Anaconda, leading to a $10,000 reward for information that could lead to his capture.
- The unfolding events of the Anaconda bar shooting, alongside other war-and-conflicts, politics, general-news, and crime-and-justice stories, have been dominating headlines and discussions on various media outlets.
