A massive manhunt is underway in western Montana for Michael Paul Brown, 45, who allegedly killed four people at The Owl Bar in Anaconda on Friday morning. Brown, a military veteran, fled the scene in a white pickup truck but later abandoned the vehicle.
Authorities released a photo Saturday showing the suspect barefoot and shirtless, walking down concrete steps after the shooting. The search has focused on the mountainous Stumptown Road area west of Anaconda, with ground teams and helicopters deployed.
Newsweek called the Anaconda-Deer Lodge County Law Enforcement Center and left a message requesting more information.
Why It Matters
Anaconda is the largest town and the county seat of Deer Lodge County, located in southwestern Montana. A town of about 9,000 people, Anaconda sits roughly 75 miles southeast of Missoula in a mountain-ringed valley.
This mass shooting has devastated the small, tight-knit community of Anaconda, a town of approximately 9,000 people nestled in Montana’s mountainous terrain. The incident highlights ongoing concerns about mental health support for military veterans and the challenges law enforcement faces when conducting searches in remote, mountainous regions.
What To Know
The shooting happened around 10:30 a.m. local time on Friday at The Owl Bar, according to the Montana Division of Criminal Investigation, which is leading the investigation.
Around 2 p.m., the Anaconda-Deer Lodge County Law Enforcement Center named a suspect on Facebook, “Be advised suspect in shooting is believed to be armed and dangerous. Suspect is Michael Paul Brown and was last seen in the Stumptown area. Public is advised to stay out of the Stumptown area and surrounding areas. If seen do not approach. Contact 911 for any way to contact Michael Paul Brown.”
More than a dozen officers from state and local law enforcement agencies converged on the Stump Town area and appeared to be searching for the suspect in a wooded area. In an earlier Facebook post, the nearby Granite County Sheriff’s Office said the suspect is said to be wearing a tie‑dyed shirt, blue jeans and an orange bandana.
Brown served as an armor crewman in the U.S. Army from 2001 to 2005, including a deployment to Iraq from early 2004 to March 2005. He later served in the Montana National Guard until 2009, leaving military service with the rank of sergeant. The suspect lived next door to The Owl Bar, according to public record.
Montana Governor Greg Gianforte said on Facebook that he is “closely monitoring the situation involving active shooter in Anaconda.”
“Please join Susan and me in praying for the victims, their loved ones, and the brave law enforcement officers responding to this tragedy,” Gianforte wrote.
What People Are Saying
Lee Johnson, Montana Division of Criminal Investigation Administrator, said Saturday: “While law enforcement has not received reports of Brown harming any other individuals, he is believed to be armed, and he is extremely dangerous. This is a small tight-knit community that has been harmed by the heinous actions of one individual who does not represent what this community or Montanans stand for.”
Clare Boyle, Brown’s niece, told the Associated Press: “This isn’t just a drunk/high man going wild. It’s a sick man who doesn’t know who he is sometimes and frequently doesn’t know where or when he is either.”
The National Fraternal Order of Police wrote on Facebook: “Our hearts are with the community of Anaconda, Montana, where four lives were lost in a senseless bar shooting. Law enforcement is actively searching for the suspect, Michael Paul Brown, who remains at large and is considered armed and dangerous. We stand with the brave officers of the Anaconda-Deer Lodge County Law Enforcement Center, the Montana Highway Patrol, and every agency working around the clock to bring this suspect to justice. To every officer out there responding to danger with courage and resolve — we see you, we back you, and we’re praying for your safety.”
Blake Hempstead, a local sports reporter in the area, posted on X: “Anaconda is in a mini lock down while police search for a gunman who shot numerous people at the Owl Bar. Don’t leave your house or come this way until this cowardly POS is found by our law enforcement officers.”
His post continued: “High speed chase is heading west towards Georgetown Lake. Local officers and highway patrol with what was apparently looked like guns drawn according to an eyewitness. This is not supposed to go down here.”
What Happens Next
The intensive search operation continues with multiple law enforcement agencies coordinating efforts across the mountainous terrain. Authorities are urging residents to remain vigilant and report any sightings immediately. The names of the four victims will be released once all families have been properly notified.
The investigation into the motive behind the shooting is ongoing, with officials working to piece together the events leading up to the tragic incident.
Reporting from the Associated Press contributed to this article.
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