Suspected Shooting Incident at a Montana Bar by Ex-U.S. Military Personnel Landing in a 4-Fatality Manhunt
In the small town of Anaconda, Montana, the search for the suspect in a deadly bar shooting continues. Michael Paul Brown, a 45-year-old military veteran, is wanted for fatally shooting four people at The Owl Bar on Friday, August 1st.
The incident, which occurred around 10:30 a.m., has left the town rattled, as stated by the owner of the Firefly Cafe, Barbie Nelson. Nelson locked up her business at about 11 a.m. that day due to the lockdown that followed.
Brown, who served in the U.S. Army from 2001 to 2005 and in the Montana National Guard from 2006 to March 2009, leaving military service in the rank of sergeant, is believed to be armed and dangerous. He lived next door to the bar, according to public records and the bar owner.
The shooting at The Owl Bar has caused a lockdown in the town, with more than a dozen officers searching for Brown in the Stump Town area, just west of Anaconda. The Montana Division of Criminal Investigation is leading the investigation, with the ATF and numerous other law enforcement agencies involved.
The victims of the shooting have been identified as Nancy Lauretta Kelley, 64; Daniel Edwin Baillie, 59; David Allen Leach, 70; and Tony Wayne Palm, 74.
As the manhunt enters its fifth day, on August 6, 2025, Governor Greg Gianforte has signed an executive order to allocate additional resources to local law enforcement. More than three dozen law enforcement agencies are now involved, including teams from the Montana National Guard, which have flown nearly 20 hours searching mountainous terrain.
Authorities continue to consider all possibilities for Brown's whereabouts, including nearby woods where he previously hunted and camped. However, officials warn that he remains armed and dangerous. A $7,500 reward is offered for information leading to his capture.
[1] Local News Article 1 [2] Local News Article 2 [3] National News Article
[1] The tragic bar shooting in Anaconda, Montana, has now escalated to a nation-wide manhunt for the suspect, Michael Paul Brown, as the event has garnered attention in the general-news and crime-and-justice sectors.
[2] In addition to the ongoing search for the deadly bar shooting suspect, local political figures have taken notice, with Governor Greg Gianforte signing an executive order to allocate more resources to the investigation.
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