Manhunt intensifies for Montana bar shooting suspect as four victims named

August 3, 2025

Police have identified the victims of a Montana bar shooting as barmaid Nancy Lauretta Kelley and customers Daniel Edwin Baillie, David Allen Leach, and Tony Wayne Palm, who were killed when an assailant opened fire at The Owl Bar in Anaconda on Friday morning. A massive manhunt involving approximately 250 law enforcement officers is currently underway for suspect Michael Paul Brown, a 45-year-old army veteran who authorities believe fled to the nearby mountainous foothills after the attack. Officials have offered a $7,500 reward for information leading to the capture of Brown, whom Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen described as "an unstable individual who walked in and murdered four people in cold blood for no reason whatsoever.

Who is affected

The four victims: Nancy Lauretta Kelley (64, barmaid), Daniel Edwin Baillie (59), David Allen Leach (70), and Tony Wayne Palm (74)
The community of Anaconda (population approximately 10,000)
Local businesses that were forced to shut down (some have reopened)
Residents whose public events have been canceled due to the manhunt
The family members of victims, including Nancy Kelley's daughter
The suspect's family, including his niece Clare Boyle

What action is being taken

Around 250 federal, state, and local law enforcement officers are searching for the suspect on foot, by car, and by helicopter
Authorities have widened their search area to include national forest land outside Anaconda
Officials are offering a $7,500 reward for information leading to Brown's capture
Investigators are operating under the assumption that Brown is alive, armed, and dangerous, though not ruling out that he may be deceased

Why it matters

The suspect is considered extremely dangerous, having allegedly committed what Attorney General Knudsen called "an absolute heinous crime against this community"
The incident has disrupted daily life in Anaconda, forcing businesses to close and events to be canceled
The shooting has shattered the community's sense of security, with Nancy Kelley's daughter noting they previously "didn't even lock our cars outside" or their houses
The suspect may have been suffering from mental illness, according to his niece, who stated he "doesn't know who he is sometimes and frequently doesn't know where or when he is"
The case highlights the relationship between mental health issues and violence, as Brown was reportedly a regular at the bar but "wasn't a part of the camaraderie" among customers

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC