Man suspected of killing 4 people in Montana bar shooting captured
Share and Follow

ANACONDA, Montana (AP) — A man suspected in a shooting at a Montana bar that left four people dead and prompted a neighborhood lockdown was captured Friday after a weeklong search, authorities said.

Michael Paul Brown, 45, was taken into custody around 2 p.m. near the area where authorities had focused their search in the days following the Aug. 1 shooting at The Owl Bar in Anaconda, about a hundred miles from Missoula. Authorities said only that Brown had been placed under arrest, without providing more details about where he was found.

Gov. Greg Gianforte confirmed Brown’s capture on social media Friday afternoon, saying it was an incredible response from law enforcement officers across the state.

“May God continue to be with the families of the four victims still grieving their loss,” he said.

Authorities planned to release more details about Brown’s capture during a news conference Friday evening.

This photo provided by Montana Department of Justice shows Michael Brown, who authorities say opened fire at a bar, killing four people on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025 in Anaconda, Mont. ( Montana Department of Justice via AP)

Montana authorities have not said what sparked last week’s shooting, which killed a female bartender and three male patrons. They were identified as Nancy Lauretta Kelley, 64; Daniel Edwin Baillie, 59; David Allen Leach, 70; and Tony Wayne Palm, 74.

The shooting rattled the tight-knit town of about 9,000 people, and many residents were on high alert as authorities searched wooded hillsides from the ground and air. About 22 square miles (57 square kilometers) of forest southwest of Anaconda had been closed to the public by forest managers as a precaution.

Earlier in the week, Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen had said it didn’t appear that Brown had broken into any cabins or homes in the area to get food or additional supplies.

Brown, who lived next door to The Owl Bar, served in the Army as an armor crewman from 2001 to 2005 and deployed to Iraq from early 2004 until March 2005. He also was in the Montana National Guard from 2006 to 2009.

Brown’s niece, Clare Boyle, told the AP her uncle has struggled with mental illness for years and she and other family members repeatedly sought help.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like

Philippines Braces for Super Typhoon Amidst Recovery from Devastating Storm: Urgent Updates

MANILA – The Philippines faces its most formidable weather challenge this year…

Heartfelt Candlelight Vigil Commemorates Lives Lost in Ybor City Tragedy

In Tampa, Florida, the community gathered for a candlelight vigil on Saturday…

UPS and FedEx Temporarily Suspend Portions of Cargo Operations Following Fatal Plane Crash in Kentucky

Following a tragic incident earlier this week in Louisville, Kentucky, that resulted…

Transforming Lives: How the Inspiring Dreams Gala Combines Glamour with Generous Giving

On Thursday evening, Savannah welcomed a touch of Hollywood glamour to its…

U.S. States Intensify Efforts to Combat Antisemitism in School Systems: A Closer Look

Following the October 7 attack on Israel by Hamas two years ago,…

Tragic Accident in Florida: Speeding Car Leaves 4 Dead, 11 Injured

A tragic incident in Ybor City has led to a Dade City…

Ex-Amvets District Manager Faces Felony Embezzlement Charges

A former employee of Amvets in Bristol, Virginia, faces serious charges after…

Tragic Incident in Florida: Speeding Car Leaves Four Dead, Eleven Injured

A tragic incident unfolded in Ybor early Saturday morning when a high-speed…