by Four people were shot dead at a local dive bar in a small Montana town, sparking a manhunt for the shooter that has lasted into the weekend and unsettled the locals.
Michael Brown, 45, was named by the authorities as a suspect in the Friday morning shooting. Montana had its bloodiest since 2015. Mr. Brown, an Army veteran who resided near the club, has reportedly had mental health concerns, according to his family.
The town of Anaconda, a close-knit community in Deer Lodge County, was devastated by the horrific attack. For the first time in years, several indicated they would now lock their doors at night, while others said they would carry guns for protection.
This is what we currently know about the shooting.
What Happened in the Attack
The attacker killed four individuals inside the Owl Bar at around 10:30 a.m. on Friday before escaping and turning onto a gravel road outside the town.
According to the Montana Department of Justice’s Division of Criminal Investigation, which published the video and identified the individual as Mr. Brown, the man can be seen exiting the bar following the shooting. In the video, he was wearing dark shorts, no top, and looked haggard.
Uncertainty surrounds the attack’s circumstances and its motivation.
Although the identities of the four deceased have not been made public, authorities stated on Saturday that one of the victims was a bartender and three of the victims were customers.
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What We Know About the Suspect
Mr. Brown, sometimes known as Mikey, has lived in Anaconda for a long time. According to an Army spokeswoman, he was deployed to Iraq for 13 months in 2004 and 2005 after serving for four years as an armor crewman. Mr. Brown left the military as a sergeant and enlisted in the Montana National Guard, where he served for almost three years until 2009.
According to his family, Mr. Brown suffered from severe post-traumatic stress disorder after leaving the military. One of his sisters, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said he was so nervous and afflicted by night terrors that he didn’t have a cellphone.
According to his family, Mr. Brown was ultimately diagnosed with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Additionally, they said that despite their best efforts, he had refused therapy. One family member claimed that after his mother passed away in 2021, his mental condition deteriorated.
Mr. Brown has a reputation for telling wild tales around town. Scot Conrady, an acquaintance, described Mr. Brown’s stories as intricate and thorough. Mr. Conrady claims that Mr. Brown once claimed to have leaped from the Empire State Building and landed in a garbage can. Mr. Conrady was informed by Mr. Brown that he had floated to China at another point.
Although Mr. Brown’s neighbors were aware of his mental health issues, two locals who knew him reported that he was usually peaceful and that they had never saw him act violently. According to his family, he was affectionate and quiet.
Jim Jardine, who lived in Anaconda and knew Mr. Brown, stated, “We accepted him for who he was, even though he was in his own world.”
How the Search Is Unfolding
As of Saturday, the authorities were still looking for Mr. Brown. Anaconda Deer Lodge County Police Chief Bill Sather said in a brief video message that while locals should remain watchful, they are free to carry on with their daily activities. Businesses and stores were closed the day before after officials recommended residents to stay indoors. The town’s streets were mostly deserted when they reopened on Saturday.
The Montana attorney general’s spokesperson, Chase Scheuer, stated on Saturday that police have been concentrating on a location off the road where Mr. Brown was last seen.
Agents have dispersed on foot, by car, and by helicopter because the area’s geography and dense vegetation may make search operations more difficult.
The Montana Division of Criminal Investigation, the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and nearby sheriff departments are among the local, state, and federal law enforcement organizations assisting with the manhunt.
A Quiet Town Surrounded by Wilderness
Anaconda, a former copper smelting town next to Butte, was devastated by the shooting. About 10,000 people live in the town and the surrounding area, and the Flint Creek and Pintler mountain ranges are among the wild landscape that envelops Anaconda. According to locals, it’s a peaceful neighborhood where everyone knows one another.
The Owl Bar has been a mainstay in Anaconda for decades and is a friendly place, according to Brian Stegeman, a bartender at another Anaconda establishment. On a sign over its door, the pub, a small-town hole and neighborhood hangout, claimed to have the greatest tap beer in town. The Owl was often quiet during the day, according to neighbors, and is nestled into a neighborhood of two-story homes a few streets from Anaconda’s main business district.
Social media posts reveal that Mr. Brown had visited the bar before to the incident, and he resided on the same street.
Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs, Jim Robbins, andReporting assistance was provided by Chris Hippensteel.Kirsten NoyesandResearch was contributed by Susan C. Beachy.
