Montana bar shooting suspect arrested after weeklong search
Share and Follow

The former U.S. soldier, identified as 45-year-old Michael Paul Brown, is suspected of killing four people at a Montana bar last week.

ANACONDA, Mont. — 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 (190 km) 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.

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.


Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.     

Share and Follow
You May Also Like
TPUSA spokesperson accuses Arizona teachers of mocking Charlie Kirk's death with Halloween costumes

TPUSA Representative Claims Arizona Educators Mock Charlie Kirk’s Death Through Halloween Costumes

Andrew Kolvet, a spokesperson for Turning Point USA, expressed outrage over a…
Zohran Mamdani, who Trump calls 'communist lunatic', set for NYC mayor

Zohran Mamdani, Labeled a ‘Communist Lunatic’ by Trump, Poised to Enter NYC Mayoral Race

In the best disaster films, there is almost always a moment when…
Indiana woman faces 36 charges related to identity fraud

Indiana Woman Charged with 36 Counts of Identity Fraud in Major Criminal Case

A woman from Indiana is now confronting over 30 charges as a…
Heidi Klum Halloween costume: Klum reveals Medusa costume with husband Tom Kaulitz for Halloween 2025

Heidi Klum Unveils Stunning Medusa Costume with Tom Kaulitz for Halloween 2025 Celebration

NEW YORK — Heidi Klum embraced the mythical allure of Medusa for…
Heidi Klum, the 'Queen of Halloween,' reveals 2025 costume

Heidi Klum, Celebrated as the ‘Queen of Halloween,’ Unveils Her 2025 Costume

Heidi Klum’s Halloween party and her intricate costumes have turned into one…
First Coast surfing legend, Biddy Hunter, dies at age 77

Celebrated First Coast Surfing Icon Biddy Hunter Passes Away at 77

Dennis “Biddy” Hunter, a prominent figure in the surfing community, brought international…
Bishop's village attacked, 20 slain after recent testimony to Congress on Christian persecution

Trump Labels Nigeria a ‘Country of Particular Concern’ Due to Extensive Christian Persecution and Violence

In a significant announcement on Friday, President Trump declared Nigeria a “country…
Mississippi deadbeat dad Christian admits to stealing $10K from his 4-year-old’s savings

Mississippi Father Confesses to Taking $10K from Child’s Savings Fund

A Mississippi mailman has ignited controversy following a startling confession on a…