Alleged Montana Bar Shooter Captured, Ending Weeklong Manhunt

Michael Paul Brown, the former U.S. Army soldier suspected of gunning down four people at The Owl Bar in Anaconda, Montana, was apprehended Friday, bringing an end to a weeklong manhunt that gripped the state.

Brown, 45, was taken into custody near the search area in Anaconda at approximately 2 p.m. Friday, according to Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen. His capture follows an extensive search effort involving over 250 law enforcement personnel from more than 39 local, state, and federal agencies, who scoured the challenging mountainous terrain.

The deadly incident occurred on August 1, 2025, when Brown allegedly opened fire at the bar, killing bartender Nancy Loretta Kelly, 64, and patrons Daniel Edwin Bailey, 59; David Allen Leach, 70; and Tony Wayne Palm, 74. Authorities believe Brown, who lived next door to The Owl Bar, was familiar with most of the victims.

Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte praised the dedication of law enforcement, stating, “‘Thank you’ does not cover what we owe to these brave men and women.” He attributed the length of the search to the difficult landscape Brown was hiding in, suggesting that a large law enforcement presence on Thursday may have helped flush him out.

Brown, an Army veteran who served in the Iraq War and the Montana National Guard, is now in the custody of Anaconda-Deer Lodge County authorities. The homicide investigation remains ongoing, with officials withholding further details to ensure the integrity of the case.

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