ANACONDA, Mont. – An Army veteran suspected in a bar shooting massacre that claimed four lives in a rural western town of 9,000 people sparked a massive manhunt that lasted a full week.

Michael Paul Brown, 45, of Anaconda, Montana, was the state’s most wanted man until his time on the lam ended near a barn just under six miles from the scene of his horrific crime. Now he is behind bars, where he is likely to remain for the rest of his life.

Below is a timeline of the shooting, and events that followed. 

Friday, Aug. 1

At around 10:30 a.m. local time, Brown entered The Owl Bar in Anaconda, a local watering hole where he was known to be a regular, and opened fire. He lived next door to the bar and “likely knew these patrons,” according to Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen. 

The Owl Bar in Anaconda, Montana is pictured on August 7, 2025 surrounded by crime scene tape. (Peter D’Abrosca/Fox News Digital) (Fox News Digital)

Michael Paul Brown’s home on E. 3rd St. in Anaconda, Montana, is boarded up after being raided by a SWAT team on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025. Photographed Aug. 8, 2025. (Peter D’Abrosca/Fox News Digital) (Peter D’Abrosca/Fox News Digital)

Wednesday, Aug. 6

The search remained ongoing on Wednesday, without new updates from authorities. 

Thursday, Aug. 7

Authorities continued to search for Brown on Thursday, while local residents told Fox News Digital that they feared his return to the town. 

“He was always very skittish. Just like his thoughts were always off the wall and always giving crazy stories. But he was a very sweet guy,” Jill Rowles, a bartender at Jfk Bar, just one block from The Owl Bar, told Fox News Digital. 

Jill Rowles, is bartender at Jfk Bar, down the street from The Owl Bar, photographed on Aug. 8, 2025. (Peter D’Abrosca/Fox News Digital) (Peter D’Abrosca/Fox News Digital)

Rowles was a friend of Kelley, the victim and bartender at The Owl Bar. 

“The town is just scared. Everybody’s scared. You see everything on Facebook like that. You hear the sirens go by and your stomach just turns,” she said. 

“Everybody’s in shock, and, hey, everybody’s on edge. With me bartending, I’m looking at those doors constantly, she said, gesturing towards the two entrances of the bar.”

Another resident, Matt Fontenot, described a dispirited town that spent the week on edge. 

“I feel like the air has almost changed, like the attitude of the town has grown just a little bit more submissive than usual, just because people feel like they don’t really have control over their lives as much right now because of this,” he said.

Friday, Aug. 8

The manhunt for Brown in the mountainous terrain continued in the morning.

Flowers and momentos rest on the street in front of The Owl Bar in Anaconda, Montana, where four people were shot and killed on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025. (Peter D’Abrosca/Fox News Digital) (Fox News Digital)

Several residents of the town expressed to Fox News Digital the desire for the manhunt to come to a conclusion – with Brown dead or alive – so the community could grieve its loss in peace. 

Suddenly, in the early afternoon, information began to spread that Brown had been taken into custody. 

Shortly thereafter, Gianforte confirmed the news on social media. 

At around 4:30 p.m., Gianforte and Knudsen, again surrounded by local, state and federal law enforcement, emerged from the Deer Lodge County Courthouse for a press conference to discuss Brown’s arrest. 

“Our brave men and women in law enforcement didn’t waste a second,” Gianforte said. “They jumped into action and began the search with the promise to not give up until they found this suspect. Today I am grateful to report that Michael Brown has been apprehended, arrested and is in custody.”

Knudsen then took to the podium. 

“This really is an unprecedented level of cooperation,” Knudson said, referencing local, state and federal authorities who assisted in the arrest. “It’s a good day. We got our man.”

He gave special thanks to the U.S. Marshals Service, calling them a “huge asset to us here today” and said they were “directly involved” in Brown’s Friday apprehension. He revealed that 130 personnel were involved in the search, and that tips from the community also played a significant role in capturing Brown.

Brown was tracked down near a barn on private property about five-and-half miles from The Owl Bar. 

The officials said he was taken to a local hospital to be medically cleared, and was then booked into jail. 

Citing an ongoing investigation, authorities provided few other details.

The charges against Brown have not been made public, nor has his motive for the alleged killings. 

Fox News’ Alexandra Koch, Sarah Rumpf-Whitten and Adam Sabes contributed to this report.