Law enforcement officials are searching for 45-year-old Michael Paul Brown. The U.S. Army veteran is said to have opened fire on patrons in The Owl Bar in Anaconda, Montana, in the early hours of Friday morning. The tragic act of violence claimed the life of one bartender and three patrons, leaving the small town reeling from the traumatic event.
Michael Paul Brown is U.S. Army veteran, who served as an armor crewman from 2001–2005. His military experience includes one deployment to Iraq from early 2004 through March 2005. After his year of active service, he enlisted in the Montana National Guard in 2006. He served until March 2009 and left the military as a sergeant. Meanwhile, residents of Anaconda are still coming to terms with the tragedy’s wide impact. They think the decision doesn’t accurately embody their community’s values.
Law enforcement provided this photo of Brown to the public. They provided a description of him, stating that he is about 5’ 10,” 170 lbs and has blue eyes and brown hair. His impounded white pickup truck has been found, but as of Saturday afternoon, he is still on the run. Local, state and federal law enforcement agencies are still working together in the multi-jurisdictional search for the long-term.
Barbie Nelson, a local resident, expressed the community’s unease: “For our town to be locked down, everybody’s pretty rattled.” As she pointed out, although guns are everywhere in the state of Montana, this is a horrifying event even among such tragic occurrences.
Another local, Clare Boyle, emphasized the seriousness of the situation by stating, “This isn’t just a drunk/high man going wild.” Residents like Lee Johnson underscored the impact on their tight-knit community: “This is a small, tight-knit community that has been harmed by the heinous actions of one individual who does not represent what this community or Montanans stand for.”
As the suspect search continues, officials have made Michael Paul Brown out to be armed and dangerous. As the search goes on, law enforcement are asking for anyone with information on his whereabouts to have a conscience and do the right thing. This community is hopeful for a swift resolution to this unfortunate tragedy. It’s had a tremendously negative effect on Anaconda and its residents.