Update from Montana authorities on the Anaconda shooting

A man suspected in a bar shooting that killed four people in Anaconda, Montana, has been captured near the scene after a weeklong manhunt.

Man suspected of killing 4 people at a Montana bar is in custody

Michael Paul Brown, 45, was arrested around 2 p.m. Friday a few miles from The Owl Bar in Anaconda, where four people were killed on Aug. 1. Hundreds of law enforcement officers spent days combing nearby mountains and forests after tips pointed investigators toward the search area. Brown lived next door to the bar and has military service history, including time in the Army and the Montana National Guard.

Authorities released the victims’ names: Nancy Lauretta Kelley, 64, a bartender; Daniel Edwin Baillie, 59; David Allen Leach, 70; and Tony Wayne Palm, 74. The shooting prompted the temporary closure of a forest area as officers pursued leads. Governor Greg Gianforte and state officials praised the rapid, coordinated response and said prosecutors will pursue charges. It was not immediately clear whether Brown has legal representation. The investigation also touched on welfare checks family members say they sought in recent years while noting Montana has no red flag law, a policy that remains a frequent point of political discussion.

The capture demonstrates how rural policing now relies on cross‑agency coordination, tip lines, and long searches through difficult terrain. It also spotlights a broader policy debate in Montana about gun safety and mental health interventions, especially since the state bans local red flag rules. The absence of a red flag mechanism and questions around welfare checks underscore tensions between public safety, civil liberties, and family concerns.

For a town of about 9,000 people, the event is likely to influence trust in local authorities and shape political dialogue. With questions about motive and prevention still unanswered, officials face pressure to balance swift justice with longer-term steps on mental health care and gun policy. The coming days will test how Montana laboratories of democracy handle community trauma and policy reform alike.

Highlights

Healing for Anaconda begins with clear answers and careful choices about safety and liberty.