In the quiet town of Anaconda, Montana, a community of roughly 9,000 residents is grappling with grief and disbelief following a tragic shooting that claimed the lives of four beloved locals. On Friday morning, August 1, 2025, at approximately 10:30 a.m., a gunman opened fire inside the Owl Bar, a historic neighborhood tavern in the heart of the town’s Goosetown district. The victims, identified on Sunday by authorities, were Nancy Lauretta Kelly, 64, a bartender known for her warmth and dedication, and three patrons: Daniel Edwin Baillie, 59, David Allen Leach, 70, and Tony Wayne Palm, 74. Their deaths have left a void in this tight-knit community, where the bar, established in 1893 to serve copper workers, was a cherished gathering place.
The suspect, Michael Paul Brown, a 45-year-old Army veteran, remains at large as the manhunt entered its third day on Sunday, August 3. Authorities, including local police, the Montana Division of Criminal Investigation, the FBI, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, have intensified their search, focusing on the rugged terrain of the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest southwest of Anaconda. Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen, speaking at a news conference on Sunday, confirmed that Brown used a rifle in the attack and was last seen around noon on Friday. Security footage captured a gaunt, shirtless Brown, wearing only dark shorts, fleeing the scene on foot down a set of outdoor stairs. Knudsen revealed that Brown discarded his clothes and stole a vehicle containing clothing and camping gear, suggesting he may be equipped to evade capture in the wilderness.
The search has proven challenging due to the dense brush and mountainous landscape surrounding Anaconda, a former copper smelting hub nestled 25 miles northwest of Butte. Parts of the national forest, including Barker Lake and surrounding areas, have been closed to the public to ensure safety and aid law enforcement efforts. Ground teams, supported by helicopters and drones, are scouring the region, but residents like Dan Haffey, a former fire foreman familiar with the area, describe the terrain as vast and riddled with hiding spots. “There’s a thousand places to hide on that mountain,” Haffey said, underscoring the difficulty of the operation.
Anaconda, a town shaped by its mining history, was shaken to its core by the violence. On Friday, as news of the shooting spread, businesses shuttered, and residents were urged to lock their doors and stay away from windows. By Saturday, a lockdown in the Stumptown Road area, west of town, was lifted, and Police Chief Bill Sather advised residents to resume normal activities while remaining vigilant. A prayer vigil planned for Sunday evening offered a moment for the community to mourn and honor the victims, whose names were withheld until families were notified.
Brown, who lived next door to the Owl Bar, was a familiar face in Anaconda’s bars, often seen at the Owl and nearby establishments like Carmel’s Sports Bar and Grill. Residents described him as a troubled individual who shared paranoid theories about politics and global events, though he had not been known to act violently. The bar’s owner, David Gwerder, who was not present during the shooting, emphasized that Brown knew all the victims and had no known disputes with them. “I guarantee you that,” Gwerder said, speculating that Brown “just snapped.” A bartender at the Owl, Cassandra Dutra, who was not working at the time, noted that Brown frequented the bar but often kept to himself, detached from the camaraderie of other patrons.
Brown’s struggles with mental illness were well-documented by his family. His niece, Clare Boyle, shared that he had battled severe mental health issues for years, often losing touch with reality. “This isn’t just a drunk or high man going wild,” she wrote in a message. “It’s a sick man who doesn’t know who he is sometimes and frequently doesn’t know where or when he is either.” Despite repeated efforts by family members to seek help from the Department of Veterans Affairs, Boyle said little could be done without Brown’s cooperation. Brown served in the U.S. Army as an armor crewman from 2001 to 2005, including a deployment to Iraq from 2004 to 2005, and later in the Montana National Guard from 2006 to 2009, leaving the military as a sergeant.
The motive for the shooting remains unclear, leaving the community searching for answers. Montana Governor Greg Gianforte expressed solidarity, calling for prayers for the victims, their families, and the law enforcement officers working tirelessly to apprehend Brown. Senator Steve Daines highlighted the use of police drones to aid the search, reflecting the scale of the response. As Anaconda begins to heal, the loss of Nancy, Daniel, David, and Tony—described as integral to the town’s spirit—has left an indelible mark. The Owl Bar, now temporarily closed, stands as a somber reminder of a tragedy that has shattered the peace of this close-knit community.