A horrific shooting at the Owl Bar in Anaconda, MT, claimed four lives on Thursday morning. The incident occurred around 10:30 a.m. and has been classified as the ninth mass murder in the United States this year, according to the Gun Violence Archive. Michael Paul Brown, a 45-year-old neighbor of the bar, was named as the primary suspect. Authorities are directing their investigation towards him after this horrific crime.
According to Department of Defense public records, Michael Paul Brown was an armor crewman in the U.S. Army from 2001 to 2005. He was deployed to Iraq from early 2004 to March 2005. Following his active duty, he became a member of the Montana National Guard. He did his duty from 2006 through March 2009 and came home with the rank of sergeant.
The shooting underscores a broader and extremely dangerous trend. It is the fourth mass murder in the United States in only 30 days, counting from July 2. With the most recent of these shocking occurrences, America’s leaders are rightfully sounding the alarm on an epidemic of gun violence sweeping the country.
These explanations were based on the claims of local law enforcement that Brown was armed and constituted an urgent, ongoing threat. Within minutes, a Federal Bureau of Investigation tactical team moved in to secure Brown’s home. While the sharpshooters were rappelling down, more than a dozen local and state police officers came to the scene to establish a perimeter lockdown. They cut off access to the crime-ridden neighborhood several miles away while they combed a heavily wooded area looking for Brown. Helicopters whipped overhead as Clayton County officers navigated tactically between trees.
Residents told local press their fear was palpable after the incident. Huot, a nearby elementary school principal and local educator, shared how their school was able to respond in minutes after realizing what was happening. They closed off the building, locked the doors and ushered students to a designated zone for fun activities, far from windows and doors.
Barbie Nelson, another local resident, reflected on the gun culture in Montana, saying, “We are Montana, so guns are not new to us.” This feeling highlights the complicated attachment that lots of residents feel toward guns.
According to an article published by the Missoulian, authorities had confirmed Brown was last seen in the Stump Town area just west of Anaconda. As the manhunt was ongoing, law enforcement encouraged residents to be on alert and report any unusual activity.