Fugitive from a Montana bar shooting confronted with four murder charges following a week-long manhunt
In the small town of Anaconda, Montana, a tragic event unfolded on August 1st at The Owl Bar. A man opened fire, claiming the lives of four innocent individuals. The suspect, identified as Michael Paul Brown, is now facing four counts of murder.
Michael Paul Brown, a former soldier, lived next door to The Owl Bar. The location of the shootings has been a regular patron for Brown over several decades. However, the owner of The Owl Bar has stated that Brown was a long-time patron, but was not aware of any conflicts between Brown and the victims.
Following the shooting, Brown is reported to have stolen a truck and ditched it a few miles outside of town. He was eventually apprehended near a state highway. The investigation into the shootings is ongoing, according to the State Department of Justice spokesperson Chase Scheuer. Investigators are examining whether Brown had contact with individuals or property owners while on the run.
Charges against Brown were posted on a court website on Saturday, and he is scheduled to make an initial district court appearance on Sept. 3. Authorities have not disclosed a potential motive for the killings.
Anaconda, where the shootings occurred, is home to roughly 9,000 people and was founded by a copper magnate in the late 1800s. The town is known for its smelter stack that looms over the valley, though the stack is no longer operational.
A conviction for murder in Montana, known as deliberate homicide, is punishable by death. However, executions have been on hold since 2015 under a court ruling regarding a drug used in lethal injections.
Walter Hennessey is representing Brown, but did not immediately respond to telephone messages on Friday or Saturday. No information about conflicts between Brown and the victims at The Owl Bar has been disclosed.
The community of Anaconda is left to grapple with the aftermath of this senseless violence. Our thoughts are with the families and friends of those who lost their lives in this tragic incident.
