Montana man faces four murder charges after bar shooting

In early August 2025, a tragic shooting occurred at The Owl Bar in Anaconda, Montana, resulting in the deaths of four individuals. The suspect, Michael Paul Brown, is a 45-year-old former soldier who reportedly lived next door to the bar. On August 1, he allegedly opened fire inside the establishment, killing bartender Daniel Edwin Baillie, 59; Nancy Lauretta Kelley, 64; David Allen Leach, 70; and Tony Wayne Palm, 74. Following the incident, Brown managed to evade authorities for a week, prompting an extensive manhunt involving hundreds of law enforcement officials. Brown was apprehended on August 8, 2025, near a state highway inside an unoccupied structure after weeks of searching in the nearby mountainous forest. While Brown was on the run, he reportedly stole and abandoned a truck, complicating his capture. Law enforcement utilized helicopters and drones to locate him while ground forces conducted searches with dogs. Ultimately, the pressure from a large law enforcement presence in the region led to Brown's capture in a sparsely populated area. Investigators are still looking into whether Brown received assistance during his time on the run. Although no motive has been disclosed, it has been indicated that he struggled with mental illness, according to statements made by his niece. The case's details remained sealed until the charges against Brown were publicized on a court website. Brown faces four counts of murder, also known in Montana as deliberate homicide, for his alleged actions. If convicted, he could face the death penalty, a sentence that has been on hold in Montana since a court ruling regarding lethal injection drugs in 2015. As of now, he is being held on $2 million bail and is scheduled for an initial court appearance on September 3, 2025, with attorney Walter Hennessey representing him.