The tranquil community of Anaconda, Montana, found itself gripped by fear and a massive manhunt this weekend following a tragic bar shooting that left four people dead. Authorities have launched an extensive search operation across a rugged, mountainous terrain for a military veteran identified as the primary suspect in the heinous crime, urging local residents to remain vigilant and inside their homes.
The incident unfolded at The Owl Bar in Anaconda, a small, close-knit town, on a Friday morning. According to reports, a bartender and three patrons tragically lost their lives in the gunfire. The bar owner, David Gwerder, who was not present during the shooting, expressed his shock and noted no prior conflicts between the suspect and the victims.
The individual at the center of this intense search is 45-year-old Michael Paul Brown, a military veteran with a history of service. After the deadly confrontation at The Owl Bar, Brown reportedly fled the scene in a white pickup truck, which was later abandoned, prompting authorities to intensify their ground and air pursuit in the remote western Montana landscape.
Law enforcement agencies, led by the Montana Division of Criminal Investigation, swiftly converged on the Stumptown Road area west of Anaconda. This mountainous region has been placed under a stringent lockdown, with no entry or exit permitted, as helicopters soar above and officers meticulously comb through dense forests in a desperate attempt to locate the armed and dangerous fugitive.
Adding to the urgency of the search, authorities released a striking photograph of Brown, captured barefoot and shirtless, appearing to flee the scene down outdoor concrete steps. This image, showing Brown in black shorts immediately after the Friday shooting, serves as a crucial lead for investigators and has been widely circulated to aid in his apprehension.
The shooting has deeply rattled Anaconda, prompting business owners to lock their doors and shelter customers, reflecting the profound sense of unease. Lee Johnson, administrator of the Montana Division of Criminal Investigation, emphasized the community’s shock, stating, “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.”
Brown’s background includes service in the U.S. Army as an armor crewman from 2001 to 2005, with a deployment to Iraq from early 2004 to March 2005. He also served in the Montana National Guard from 2006 to March 2009, attaining the rank of sergeant, according to Lt. Col. Ruth Castro, an Army spokesperson, providing a glimpse into his past.
Barbie Nelson, owner of the Firefly Café, highlighted a local perspective on the incident, noting, “We are Montana, so guns are not new to us. For our town to be locked down, everybody’s pretty rattled.” This sentiment underscores the unique blend of familiarity with firearms and the profound shock when such violence strikes close to home.
