Manhunt in Montana: Community on Edge After Bar Shooting Tragedy

Authorities initiated a manhunt following a fatal shooting at a Montana bar that claimed four lives on Friday.

The incident occurred at The Owl Bar in Anaconda around 10:30 a.m. The Montana Division of Criminal Investigation is leading the inquiry, confirming the deaths at the scene.

The identified suspect, 45-year-old Michael Paul Brown, resided next door to the bar. A SWAT team cleared his residence, and he was last spotted in the Stump Town area, just west of Anaconda, according to officials.

A significant police presence was observed in the area, with officers searching local woods for the suspect.

A statement from the Montana Highway Patrol indicated that Brown is considered armed.

Anaconda, located 75 miles southeast of Missoula in a mountain valley, is a historical town established by copper industry magnates in the late 19th century, now home to roughly 9,000 people. The landscape is dominated by a massive, defunct smelter.

Barbie Nelson, owner of the Firefly Café in Anaconda, closed her establishment at 11 a.m. as precaution after being informed of the shooting. She awaited reopening clearance for hours post-incident.

"It's unsettling for our community, accustomed to firearms, to experience a lockdown like this," Nelson commented. "It's a close-knit town, and many of us may know someone affected by this tragedy."

(With inputs from agencies.)