Anaconda shooting: Montana manhunt intensifies for veteran accused after 4 killed; kin says suspect struggled with mental health issues
US Police continued scouring the rugged mountains of Montana on Saturday as the search for Michael Paul Brown, a 45-year-old military veteran accused of fatally shooting four people at The Owl Bar in Anaconda, entered its second day.
Brown fled the scene in a white pickup truck, which was later abandoned, according to Lee Johnson of the Montana Division of Criminal Investigation. Johnson urged residents Friday night to stay indoors and remain alert.
Authorities also released a photo of Brown, reportedly taken as he fled. In the image, he appears gaunt, barefoot, and dressed only in black shorts while walking down a set of outdoor concrete steps.
"While law enforcement has not received reports of Brown harming any other individuals, he is believed to be armed, and he is extremely dangerous," Johnson said.
The search concentrated near Stumptown Road, west of Anaconda, involving multiple agencies at ground level and in the air.
Local businesses were permitted to operate, though Chief Bill Sather advised vigilance.
Victim identifications await family notifications.
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Johnson emphasised the impact on the community: "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."
The bar owner, David Gwerder, confirmed Brown lived adjacent to the establishment. The victims included the bartender and three customers.
"He knew everybody that was in that bar. I guarantee you that," Gwerder told the Associated Press.
"He didn't have any running dispute with any of them. I just think he snapped."
Brown's military service included Army deployment to Iraq (2004-2005) and Montana National Guard service until March 2009, reaching sergeant rank.
His niece, Clare Boyle, indicated Brown's ongoing mental health challenges: "This isn't just a drunk/high man going wild," she said via Facebook.
"It's a sick man who doesn't know who he is sometimes and frequently doesn't know where or when he is either."
As authorities lifted the Stumptown Road lockdown, retired officer Randy Clark observed helicopter surveillance and ground operations.
Local businesses had earlier implemented security measures, with owners and customers sheltering inside.
Anaconda, situated 25 miles northwest of Butte with approximately 9,000 residents, was established by copper industry magnates in the late 1800s. A defunct smelter stack remains prominent in the valley.
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