Montana Bar Shooting Suspect Arrested After Weeklong Search

• Aug 09, 2025

Authorities have captured the suspect in a deadly Montana bar shooting following a weeklong manhunt that gripped the small town of Anaconda. Michael Brown, 45, was arrested Friday afternoon near the search area, ending an intensive operation that began on August 1, when four people were killed at The Owl Bar.

Montana Governor Greg Gianforte confirmed the arrest on X, praising the swift and coordinated effort of law enforcement across the state. Attorney General Austin Knudsen commended officers for their relentless pursuit, noting the widespread support for the victims’ families from across Montana and beyond.

Investigators say Brown entered The Owl Bar last Friday morning and opened fire, killing Daniel Edwin Baillie, 59; Nancy Lauretta Kelley, 64; David Allen Leach, 70; and Tony Wayne Palm, 74. Knudsen described the incident as a senseless act, calling Brown “an unstable individual” who murdered four people “in cold blood for no reason whatsoever.”

Brown lived next door to the bar and was reportedly a regular customer. After the shooting, he fled into the surrounding mountains, discarding some of his belongings. Authorities released a photo showing him shirtless, barefoot, and wearing only black shorts. They later believed he obtained new clothing from a stolen vehicle. Officials say Brown used his own rifle in the attack.

Brown’s military background includes service in the U.S. Army from 2001 to 2005, including a deployment to Iraq, and later in the Montana National Guard from 2006 to 2009. His niece, Clare Boyle, said he had long struggled with mental illness, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) from his time in the military.

Kristian Kelley, whose mother Nancy was among the victims, described Brown as someone in need of serious mental health support but said she had never known him to be violent. She recalled his tendency to tell unusual stories, a sentiment echoed by local resident Shane Charles, who said Brown sometimes claimed to be a fictional action hero or a high-ranking government aide.

Charles remembered Nancy Kelley as a cheerful bartender who always greeted customers warmly. “All of the victims were great people,” he said. “Our community is suffering because they’ve lost some truly wonderful individuals.”

The capture of Brown brings some closure to Anaconda, but the shock and grief over the loss of four beloved community members remain deeply felt.