Authorities search rugged Montana terrain for rogue American soldier, linked to fatal bar shooting and believed to have slain four
In a shocking turn of events, a mass shooting occurred at The Owl Bar in Anaconda, Montana, on August 1, 2025. The suspect, Michael Paul Brown, a 45-year-old military veteran, is being sought by authorities after four people—a bartender and three patrons—lost their lives in the tragic incident.
The shooting took place around 10:30 a.m., and Brown allegedly fled the scene in a white pickup truck. However, he abandoned the vehicle at some point during his escape. The exact motive behind the shooting remains unclear.
Authorities have been searching for Brown intensively, focusing their efforts on mountainous areas near Stumptown Road, west of Anaconda. Brown is believed to be armed and dangerous, and residents have been urged to stay indoors and call 911 if they spot him.
Brown, who is described as 5'10" tall, about 170 pounds, with blue eyes and brown hair, was last seen barefoot, shirtless or in black shorts. He was also reportedly wearing a tie-dye shirt and an orange bandana shortly before or during the incident. Brown lived next door to the bar where the shooting took place.
The investigation is still ongoing, and authorities continue to search for Brown with increased intensity. The Montana Division of Criminal Investigation is overseeing the case.
The Owl Bar, located in Anaconda, was the site of the shooting. Anaconda, a town of about 9,000 people, was founded by copper barons and is surrounded by mountains. Reports of the shooting caused businesses, such as the Firefly Cafe, to lock their doors and shelter inside.
The victims' names will be released once their families have been notified. Michael Paul Brown served in the U.S. Army as an armor crewman from 2001 to 2005 and deployed to Iraq from early 2004 until March 2005. He also served in the Montana National Guard from 2006 to March 2009.
Residents of Anaconda are reportedly "rattled" due to the lockdown, as the town attempts to come to terms with the tragic events that unfolded at The Owl Bar. This remains an active and developing situation as of August 3, 2025.
[1] Anaconda police department press release [2] Eyewitness accounts [3] Local news reports [4] Montana Division of Criminal Investigation statement
- Authorities are urging residents of Anaconda to stay indoors and call 911 if they spot Michael Paul Brown, the 45-year-old military veteran and suspect in the mass shooting at The Owl Bar in Anaconda, which occurred on August 1, 2025.
- While the exact motive behind the shooting remains unclear, it's reported that Brown, who once served in the U.S. Army and Montana National Guard, lived next door to the bar where the tragic incident took place.
- In an effort to gather more information, the Montana Division of Criminal Investigation is overseeing the case, based on press releases from the Anaconda police department, eyewitness accounts, local news reports, and their own statements.
- The importance of mental health and wellness, fitness, and exercise, as well as preventing future incidents of war, conflicts, crime, and injustice, are highlighted once again within the general news discourse in the wake of this unexpected incident.
