ANACONDA, Mont. (BN24) — Four people were fatally shot Friday morning inside a bar in the small Montana city of Anaconda, prompting an urgent manhunt for a suspect authorities say is armed and dangerous.
The shooting occurred around 10:30 a.m. local time at The Owl Bar, according to the Montana Division of Criminal Investigation. Law enforcement has identified the suspect as Michael Paul Brown, warning the public not to approach him under any circumstances and to call 911 with any information.
Local and state agencies, including SWAT units, are actively searching for Brown west of Anaconda, focusing on an area near Stumptown Road and Anderson Ranch Loop Road. Authorities urged residents to avoid the area while the investigation and manhunt are ongoing.
In a statement Friday, the Anaconda-Deer Lodge County Law Enforcement Department described Brown as “armed and dangerous.” He was last seen wearing a tie-dye shirt, blue jeans, and an orange bandana, according to the neighboring Granite County Sheriff’s Office.
Brown’s residence in Anaconda has already been cleared by a tactical team, but as of Friday afternoon, he remained at large.
The local newspaper, The Anaconda Leader, suspended its Friday print delivery in response to the ongoing threat. “Our office is closed until the situation is resolved,” the paper said in a social media post, adding that updates would continue to be published online.
Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte said he was closely monitoring the unfolding tragedy. “Please join Susan and me in praying for the victims, their loved ones, and the brave law enforcement officers responding to this tragedy,” he posted online, referring to his wife, Susan Gianforte.
The motive for the attack remains unknown, and the identities of the victims have not been publicly released.
Friday’s mass shooting marks one of at least 256 such incidents in the U.S. so far in 2025, according to data from the Gun Violence Archive. The nonprofit defines a mass shooting as one in which at least four people are shot or killed, excluding the shooter. In 2024, the U.S. recorded 503 such incidents.
Anaconda, a historic mining town in southwestern Montana, has been shaken by the rare burst of violence. Residents have been urged to remain indoors while the search continues into the evening.
