Authorities warn Montana bar shooting suspect may return as manhunt continues
Montana officials warned residents on Sunday that the suspect in Friday’s deadly shooting at a bar in Anaconda could return to the area as an intensive manhunt continues. The suspect, identified as 47-year-old Michael Paul Brown, is accused of fatally shooting four people at the Owl Bar on Friday morning before fleeing the scene.
Attorney General Austin Knudsen described Brown as “armed and extremely dangerous,” urging the public to remain alert and call 911 immediately if he is spotted. A $7,500 reward is being offered for information leading to his capture. The victims have been identified as bartender Nancy Lauretta Kelley, 64, and patrons Daniel Edwin Ballie, 59, David Allen Leach, 70, and Tony Wayne Palm, 74, all residents of Anaconda. Brown, who lived next door to the bar and was a frequent customer, allegedly used a rifle during the attack. Authorities said he initially fled wearing a tie-dye shirt and jeans but was later seen in an image stripped down to his underwear before stealing a vehicle, which has since allowed him to change clothing. Knudsen noted that Brown has a criminal record and a history of mental health issues.
Authorities have concentrated the search in rural areas near Stumptown Road, Barker Lake, and the surrounding region. Knudsen did not rule out the possibility that Brown might attempt to harm himself, but investigators are operating on the assumption that he remains alive, armed, and a threat to the public. Brown’s friends and family say he has long struggled with mental health issues, including post-traumatic stress disorder, stemming from his military service in Iraq between 2004 and 2005.
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