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Anaconda murder suspect apprehended

The Owl Bar in Anaconda Montana on August 4, 2025. The bar was the scene of an August 1 shooting resulting in four deaths and a weeklong manhunt for the suspect, Michael Paul Brown.
Shaylee Ragar
The Owl Bar in Anaconda Montana on August 4, 2025. The bar was the scene of an August 1 shooting resulting in four deaths and a weeklong manhunt for the suspect, Michael Paul Brown.

The suspect accused of shooting and killing four people in an Anaconda bar last week is now in police custody.

Attorney General Austin Knudsen’s office announced today that Michael Paul Brown was found around 2 p.m.

During a press conference, Knudsen said Brown was found west of Anaconda near the Ranch Bar. He said Brown was armed at the time, but declined to provide more details.

County Attorney Morgan Smith didn’t provide a timeline for when Brown will be charged and could appear in court.

Brown evaded dozens of law enforcement agencies for a week in the mountainous area near town. There were roughly 250 federal, state and local law enforcement personnel searching for him.

When asked why the search took a week, Gov. Greg Gianforte said the mountainous terrain made it difficult, and complemented law enforcement for their efforts.

Michael Paul Brown was arrested for the August 1, 2025 murder of four people in Anaconda, MT. Brown evaded law enforcement for a week before being taken into custody August 8.
Montana Department of Justice
Michael Paul Brown was arrested for the August 1, 2025 murder of four people in Anaconda, MT. Brown evaded law enforcement for a week before being taken into custody August 8.

The victims of the Aug. 1 shooting were identified as 59-year-old Daniel Baillie, 64-year-old Nancy Kelley, 70-year-old David Leach, and 74-year-old Tony Palm. All were area residents and the only known occupants of the bar during the shooting, aside from Brown.

Brown is a military veteran who served in the U.S. Army and Montana National Guard, according to the U.S. Marshals Service. His family has publicly said Brown has long struggled with mental illness.

Montana Public Radio is a public service of the University of Montana. State government coverage is funded in part through a grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

Victoria Traxler is MTPR's Rural Policy Reporter.
Edward O’Brien first landed at Montana Public Radio three decades ago as a news intern while attending the UM School of Journalism. He covers a wide range of stories from around the state.
edward.obrien@umt.edu.  
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