Montana authorities are combing through mountainous terrain in search of a former U.S. military personnel, suspected of carrying out a fatal bar shooting, resulting in the death of four individuals.
In the small town of Anaconda, Montana, a manhunt is underway for Michael Paul Brown, a 45-year-old military veteran, who is suspected of opening fire at The Owl Bar on August 3, 2025. The tragic incident resulted in the loss of four lives, and Brown remains at large, considered armed and extremely dangerous.
The search for Brown has been ongoing since Saturday morning, with more than a dozen officers actively searching a mountainous and wooded area west of Anaconda, including near Stump Town. The Montana Division of Criminal Investigation is overseeing the case, with the assistance of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Brown is believed to have fled the scene in a white pickup truck but later abandoned it. Authorities have released a photo of Brown, barefoot and shirtless, walking down outdoor concrete steps, and have noted that he was last seen dressed differently (tie-dyed shirt, blue jeans, and an orange bandana) at the time of the shooting.
The Owl Bar, owned by David Gwerder, was the scene of the shooting. Gwerder was not present during the incident and is not aware of any conflicts between Brown and the victims. The names of the victims will be released once all families have been notified.
Amidst the safety concerns, public events in Anaconda have been canceled. The town, which was founded by copper barons and known for nearby mines in the late 1800s, has a population of approximately 9,000 people. The owners of businesses in Anaconda locked their doors and sheltered inside with customers after reports of the shooting spread.
Brown served in the U.S. Army as an armor crewman from 2001 to 2005 and deployed to Iraq from early 2004 until March 2005. He was a member of the Montana National Guard from 2006 to March 2009 and left military service in the rank of sergeant. Clare Boyle, Brown's niece, stated that he has struggled with mental illness for years. Boyle's father, Anaconda Police Chief Bill Sather, has urged caution, allowing businesses to open but asking for vigilance.
A helicopter was used in the search, hovering over a nearby mountainside. The lockdown was lifted by Saturday, but authorities conducted a search in the Stumptown Road area west of Anaconda on Friday, locking it down to prevent access. A reward has been offered for information leading to Brown's capture, and a hotline operated by the U.S. Marshals Service has been established for public tips: (877) WANTED2.
[1] Montana Standard, "Manhunt continues for suspect in Anaconda shooting," August 3, 2025. [2] KTVH, "Anaconda shooting: Suspect still at large, manhunt continues," August 3, 2025. [3] Missoulian, "Anaconda shooting: Suspect identified, manhunt continues," August 3, 2025.
- The ongoing manhunt for Michael Paul Brown, a veteran suspected of a deadly shooting at The Owl Bar in Anaconda, Montana, has escalated to become a focus of both local and national general news, with crime-and-justice and politics sections extensively covering the event.
- Amidst the manhunt for the suspected shooter and the lockdown in Anaconda, Montana, recent developments in war-and-conflicts, politics, and general news have been relatively overshadowed, as the search for Michael Paul Brown underscores the escalating crime-and-justice issues in the area.
