Authorities are actively searching for Michael Paul Brown, the former U.S. soldier suspected of fatally shooting four people at The Owl Bar in Anaconda, Montana. Brown remains at large and is considered “armed and extremely dangerous,” according to law enforcement officials.
The tragic shooting occurred on the morning of Friday, August 1, and left four dead, including a bartender and three bar patrons. Brown, who is described as 5 feet 10 inches tall, weighing 170 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes, fled the scene in a white Ford F-150. Though authorities have found the vehicle, Brown himself was not in or near the truck when it was located.
At a press briefing on the evening of the shooting, Lee Johnson from the Montana Department of Justice confirmed that authorities are focusing their search efforts around the mountains near Stumptown Road, west of Anaconda. Law enforcement agencies from local, state, and federal levels are collaborating on the search, which is ongoing both on the ground and in the air.
Residents in the area have been advised to stay inside and remain on high alert. Authorities emphasized the importance of not engaging with Brown due to his dangerous nature. Johnson described the community as “small and tight-knit” and expressed the deep shock and harm caused by the shooting, stating that Brown’s actions do not reflect the values of the local people or Montanans in general.
In a statement shared on August 2, the Montana Department of Justice reiterated that Brown is believed to be armed and dangerous and that authorities have not received reports of further violence since the shooting.
The shooting occurred at around 10:30 a.m. on August 1 at The Owl Bar, a local establishment near where Brown lived. Brown, an Army veteran who served in Iraq between 2004 and 2005, also served in the Montana National Guard until 2008.
Relatives of Brown, speaking anonymously to the press, revealed that he had a history of severe mental health issues, including bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. These conditions may have played a role in the tragic events.
Montana Governor Greg Gianforte has been closely monitoring the situation, expressing his concern for the victims and the safety of the public.
As of now, the search for Brown continues, and authorities are urging anyone with information to come forward to assist in his capture.
