Montana Bar Shooting: Manhunt Continues for Armed and Dangerous Suspect Michael Paul Brown After Fatal Attack at The Owl Bar

In a tragic development, the victims involved in a shooting incident at a bar in Anaconda, Montana on Friday have been identified. According to a statement released by Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen, the deceased individuals are 59-year-old Daniel Edwin Baillie, 64-year-old Nancy Lauretta Kelley, 70-year-old David Allen Leach, and 74-year-old Tony Wayne Palm.

The victims included a bartender and two customers, as per Knudsen’s statement. The incorrect spelling of Baillie’s last name that was previously used has been rectified.

Expressing his condolences, Knudsen stated, “My deepest sympathies are with the people of Anaconda, and the families and friends of the victims. This incident is a tragic loss for everyone involved.”

As the manhunt for the suspect continues, authorities are still searching for Michael Paul Brown, who has been at large since the shooting. Officials have announced a reward of $7,500 for any information that leads to Brown’s location. He is believed to be armed and dangerous.

Brown was last seen on security footage fleeing The Owl Bar on Friday, with the last sighting being in the Stump Town area, west of Anaconda, according to reports from The Associated Press.

Authorities have locked down Barker Lake and the surrounding area within Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest as they continue their search by land and air. Details about what led up to the shooting in this usually peaceful backcountry remain unclear at this time.

The Montana Division of Criminal Investigation reported that the shooting occurred at The Owl Bar at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, and the scene is now secured. As of early Sunday, the bar remains temporarily closed online.

Cassandra Dutra, a bartender at the establishment, shared her feelings about the incident, saying she felt extremely overwhelmed and sad. She was not working on Friday but lived nearby and heard noises during the shooting. At first, she didn’t think anything of it due to ongoing construction outside the bar.

One of the victims, Nancy Kelley, was an accomplished, retired nurse who had worked with cancer patients. Dutra remembered her fondly, saying, “I feel so sad for Nancy because I loved her and she was so very good to me from the day I met her.” Kelley had recently retired, according to Dutra.

David Gwerder, owner of The Owl Bar, stated he was unaware of any conflicts between Brown and anyone who was in the bar on Friday morning. However, Dutra noted that Brown was a frequent visitor but wasn’t part of the camaraderie among other customers.

Brown served in the US Army from January 2001 to May 2005, with a deployment to Iraq from February 2004 to March 2005. He later joined the Montana National Guard from April 2006 to March 2009 and left military service as a sergeant.

Brown’s niece, Clare Boyle, shared that he struggled with mental health issues in the Army and wasn’t the same after his service. His condition worsened after his parents died, according to Boyle. Despite his struggles, she recalled some happy moments with him, such as learning to ride a bike and fishing together.

The Army declined to release information about Brown’s mental health history due to policy and privacy constraints. The search for Brown continues in Anaconda and the surrounding areas, including Barker Lake and the area around Stumptown Road.