Montana law enforcement has successfully apprehended an individual accused of the fatal shootings at a bar, following a week-long manhunt.
Anaconda, Montana Shooting Suspect Captured After Weeklong Manhunt
Michael Paul Brown, a 45-year-old Army veteran from Anaconda, Montana, has been captured following a weeklong manhunt after a shooting at The Owl Bar that left four people dead on August 1, 2025.
Brown, who served in the U.S. Army as an armored vehicle crewman from January 2001 to May 2005 and was deployed to Iraq from February 2004 to March 2005, also served in the Montana National Guard from April 2006 to March 2009. He left the National Guard as a sergeant.
Brown was known as a regular patron at The Owl Bar but was not part of the camaraderie with other customers. Authorities believe he knew the victims, but the motive for the shooting remains unclear, and no specific conflict has been identified between him and the victims.
Brown's niece, Clare Boyle, described him as having struggled with mental health issues both during and after his military service. His condition worsened following the death of his parents, and despite efforts by his family, he was reportedly turned away by Veterans Affairs and the Montana State Hospital. Some bar patrons were aware of his mental illness and delusions, and he was sometimes mocked or bullied.
Following the shooting, Brown fled the scene and was subsequently the subject of a massive manhunt. About 130 law enforcement officers were involved in the search for him, and he was captured near a barn about six miles from the bar. Authorities considered him armed and extremely dangerous throughout the search.
The victims were identified as Nancy Lauretta Kelley, 64; Daniel Edwin Baillie, 59; David Allen Leach, 70; and Tony Wayne Palm, 74. The investigation and prosecution are ongoing, with Brown expected to face charges for the killings.
Gov. Greg Gianforte confirmed Brown's capture, calling it the result of a "herculean effort" from law enforcement officers across the state. Anaconda-Deer Valley County Atty. Morgan Smith stated that the arrest would allow the community to finally sleep at night, and that prosecutors would be seeking to charge Brown with the killings.
It was not immediately clear whether Brown had legal representation. Bar owners from around the state have pledged to donate a portion of sales to a fund for the victims' families. Montana does not have red-flag laws allowing families to formally petition for guns to be removed from the homes of people who are deemed a danger to themselves or others. The state Legislature passed a bill this year banning local governments from enacting their own red-flag gun laws, and the governor signed it into law in May.
Before his father's death in 2015, Boyle described Brown as a good, loving uncle. However, she and other family members noticed a slip in his mental state, with Brown experiencing delusions and often not knowing who, when, or where he was. The Anaconda-Deer Lodge County Law Enforcement Department did not respond to requests for records of the wellness checks conducted on Brown in the years leading up to the shooting.
Brown kept guns in his home and had avidly hunted. Following his capture, he was taken to a hospital for medical clearance and was later released. At the news conference, officials had no comment on whether police had performed wellness checks.
- In the aftermath of Brown's capture, Governor Greg Gianforte commended the "herculean effort" of law enforcement officers in Montana, expressing hope that the community can now sleep peacefully.
- As the investigation and prosecution continue for Michael Paul Brown, questions arise about Montana's lack of red-flag laws, as the state legislature recently banned local governments from enacting their own red-flag gun laws.
- The general-news, crime-and-justice sector is closely following the case, as Brown, a former army veteran with a history of mental health issues, is expected to face charges for the killings at The Owl Bar in Anaconda, Montana.
