Police in Montana are continuing their search for 45-year-old Michael Paul Brown, a military veteran accused of shooting and killing four people at The Owl Bar in Anaconda on Thursday night. The manhunt entered its second day on Saturday.
Brown ran away after the shooting in a white pickup truck, which was later found abandoned. Authorities warned locals to stay inside and be alert, as Brown is believed to be armed and very dangerous.
A photo taken as he escaped shows Brown looking thin, barefoot, and wearing only black shorts while walking down some outdoor steps.
The Montana Division of Criminal Investigation released the following photo of 45-year-old Michael Brown fleeing The Owl Bar on Friday after the shooting. Officials are searching for Brown near Anaconda and urge residents in the area to stay vigilant.
https://t.co/rqUtvv5a33 pic.twitter.com/z9Kk9ezZU6— NBC Montana (@NBCMontana) August 2, 2025
Brown served in the U.S. Army in Iraq between 2004 and 2005 and later joined the Montana National Guard until 2009, reaching the rank of sergeant.
His niece, Clare Boyle, shared on Facebook that Brown had long struggled with mental health issues. “This isn’t just a drunk or high man going wild,” she wrote. “He’s a sick man who often doesn’t know where or who he is.”
The police search is now focused on the area near Stumptown Road, just west of Anaconda. Multiple law enforcement teams, both on the ground and in helicopters, are involved. Businesses in the area were allowed to remain open, but residents were advised to stay alert.
The names of the victims have not yet been shared as officials are informing their families. The bar owner, David Gwerder, said Brown lived next door and was familiar with the people in the bar. “He knew everyone there. He didn’t have any fights with them. I think he just snapped,” Gwerder told reporters.
Witnesses say helicopters and ground teams have been actively searching the area, even though the lockdown near Stumptown Road has been lifted.
Anaconda is a small town of about 9,000 people, located 25 miles northwest of Butte. The town has a history tied to the copper industry, and a large old smelter stack still stands as a symbol of its past.
