Gunman at large after fatal Montana bar shooting

Aug 01, 2025 at 08:13 PM CDT

Lauren Keenan (Anchor/Reporter)

A gunman killed four people at a Montana bar and is still at large as police search for the armed suspect, Michael Brown. — Image credit: Oliver Helbig via Getty Images

This recording was made using enhanced software.

Summary

Manhunt underway

Authorities identified the suspect as 45-year-old Michael Brown, who was last seen near Stump Town driving a stolen white Ford F-150.

Investigation ongoing

Police and state agencies continue an intensive search, calling Brown armed and extremely dangerous.

Full story

A gunman, wanted for shooting and killing four people in a Montana bar, is at large. Police said they’re searching for 45-year-old Michael Brown, of Anaconda, after four people were killed at the Owl Bar in the town. Investigators said the shooting happened at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Aug. 1.

Search efforts underway

Brown lived next door to the bar, according to The Associated Press, which cited public records. Authorities said SWAT searched his home and “cleared” it. Dozens of local and state police officers are on the hunt for the suspect, presumed to be armed and extremely dangerous, according to the Montana Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI).

Brown was last seen near Stump Town, an area west of Anaconda.

QR code for SAN app download

Download the SAN app today to stay up-to-date with Unbiased. Straight Facts™.

Point phone camera here

He was last seen driving a stolen 2007 white Ford F-150 pickup with Montana plates DTY493, according to authorities, reports NBC Montana.

It’s unclear what led up to the shooting.

Governor responds to tragedy

Montana Governor Greg Gianforte posted on X: “I’m closely monitoring the situation involving an active shooter in Anaconda. Please join Susan and me in praying for the victims, their loved ones, and the brave law enforcement officers responding to this tragedy.”

This Montana bar shooting comes just days after a gunman opened fire on a business building in New York City, killing four people, before turning the gun on himself.

Lauren Keenan (Anchor/Reporter)

Lauren Keenan was an anchor and reporter for Straight Arrow News.

Harry Fogle (Video Editor) contributed to this report.

Tags: Crime, Greg Gianforte, Manhunt, Montana, shooting

A GUNMAN, WANTED FOR SHOOTING AND KILLING FOUR PEOPLE IN A MONTANA BAR – IS AT LARGE.

POLICE SAY THEY’RE SEARCHING FOR 45-YEAR-OLD MICHAEL BROWN OF ANACONDA, MONTANA AFTER FOUR PEOPLE WERE KILLED AT THE OWL BAR IN ANACONDA. INVESTIGATORS SAY THE SHOOTING HAPPENED AT 10:30AM FRIDAY.

BROWN LIVED NEXT DOOR TO THE BAR, ACCORDING TO THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, WHICH CITED PUBLIC RECORDS. AUTHORITIES SAID A SWAT TEAM SEARCHED HIS HOME AND “CLEARED” IT.

DOZENS OF LOCAL AND STATE POLICE OFFICERS ARE ON THE HUNT FOR THE SUSPECT, PRESUMED TO BE ARMED AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS, ACCORDING TO THE MONTANA DIVISION OF CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION (DCI).

BROWN WAS LAST SEEN NEAR STUMP TOWN, AN AREA WEST OF ANACONDA.

HE WAS LAST SEEN DRIVING A STOLEN 2007 WHITE FORD F-150 PICKUP WITH MONTANA PLATES DTY493, ACCORDING TO AUTHORITIES WHO SPOKE TO NBC MONTANA.

IT’S UNCLEAR WHAT LED UP TO THE SHOOTING.

MONTANA GOVERNOR GREG GIANFORTE POSTED ON X: “I’M CLOSELY MONITORING THE SITUATION INVOLVING AN ACTIVE SHOOTER IN ANACONDA. PLEASE JOIN SUSAN AND ME IN PRAYING FOR THE VICTIMS, THEIR LOVED ONES, AND THE BRAVE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS RESPONDING TO THIS TRAGEDY.”

THIS MONTANA BAR SHOOTING COMES JUST DAYS AFTER A GUNMAN OPENED FIRE ON A BUSINESS BUILDING IN NEW YORK CITY, KILLING FOUR PEOPLE, BEFORE TURNING THE GUN ON HIMSELF.

Why this story matters

A mass shooting at a Montana bar resulting in four deaths and a large-scale manhunt highlights ongoing concerns about public safety, law enforcement response, and the broader issue of gun violence in the United States.

Public safety

The incident led to a citywide lockdown and warnings from authorities, illustrating immediate threats to community security and the challenges of protecting residents during active shooter situations.

Law enforcement response

Local, state, and federal agencies—including SWAT, Montana Division of Criminal Investigation, and the FBI—have coordinated a manhunt and lockdown, showing the extensive resources required to address such violent events.

Gun violence

The shooting is part of a wider pattern of mass shootings in the U.S., contributing to ongoing debate about causes, prevention, and the societal impact of gun violence on communities.

Get the big picture

Synthesized coverage insights across 164 media outlets

Community reaction

Local business owners locked down their establishments and residents expressed shock, with Barbie Nelson, a café owner, telling the AP, "For our town to be locked down, everybody’s pretty rattled." Child care centers also enacted safety measures to protect children.

Context corner

Anaconda is a small Montana town of about 9,000 residents with a history rooted in copper mining. Mass gun violence incidents are uncommon in Montana, making this shooting stand out for the community.

Do the math

According to CBS News and CNN, by August 2025 there had been around 256 mass shootings in the US that year. In 2024, about 503 such incidents were recorded by the Gun Violence Archive.

U.S.

6 hrs ago

4 min read

New details emerge in Reiner killings as prosecutors prepare to review case
U.S.

6 hrs ago

10 min read

Video shows new person of interest in Brown case; Fresh clues in Reiner killings
Politics

6 hrs ago

3 min read

Trump designates fentanyl a ‘weapon of mass destruction’
U.S.

7 hrs ago

9 min read

Loyalty over mercy: Straight Arrow News examines Trump’s use of clemency

Sources

Bias comparison

Media outlets on the left emphasize the deep community impact of the Montana bar shooting, focusing on the victims' identities, local business lockdowns, and expressions of sympathy from political figures, using emotionally charged terms like "rattled" and stressing the suspect as "armed and extremely dangerous.
Not enough unique coverage from media outlets in the center to provide a bias comparison.
Media outlets on the right prioritize law-and-order framing with a calmer, reassuring tone, highlighting police assertions of "no threat to Granite County citizens at this time" and describing the incident as an "active manhunt," thus downplaying community disruption.

Report an issue with this comparison

Media landscape

Click on bars to see headlines

244 total sources

Key points from the Left

Four people were killed in a shooting at The Owl Bar in Anaconda, Montana, on Friday morning, according to the Montana Division of Criminal Investigation.
The suspect, identified as 45-year-old Michael Paul Brown, is believed to be armed and dangerous, prompting a manhunt in the area.
Authorities, including a SWAT team and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, are actively searching for Brown and have warned residents to avoid the area.
Governor Greg Gianforte expressed concern and condolences over the incident, urging prayers for the victims and those responding to the situation.

Report an issue with this summary

Key points from the Center

An active shooter opened fire at the Owl Bar in Anaconda, Montana, on August 1, 2025, prompting a citywide lockdown and law enforcement pursuit.
The shooting followed reports of a potentially fatal mass shooting, leading authorities to initiate a lockdown and pursue the suspect fleeing the scene.
Law enforcement intercepted a white Ford F-150 used by the armed suspect, described as wearing a tie-dyed shirt, blue jeans, and an orange bandana, near Stumptown Road west of Anaconda.
Reports indicated multiple people were shot, with unconfirmed fatalities including statements that "four people were dead," though official sources had not confirmed details.
Authorities continue searching for the suspect and maintain the lockdown in Anaconda, stating there is currently no threat to Granite County residents while investigations proceed.

Report an issue with this summary

See Hide headlines from Center sources 112 sources

Key points from the Right

A shooting at The Owl Bar in Anaconda, Montana, resulted in four fatalities, according to law enforcement officials.
The suspect, identified as Michael Brown, remains at large and is believed to be dangerous and armed.
Law enforcement reported multiple victims with gunshot wounds following the shooting that began around 10:30 a.m.
Officials warn the public to avoid the Anaconda area as a manhunt is underway for the suspect driving a 2007 white Ford F-150 pickup.

Report an issue with this summary

Other (sources without bias rating):

See Hide headlines from Other sources 67 sources

Powered by Ground News™

Sources