In the midst of an ongoing human hunt, the Montana authorities warned Sunday that Michael Paul Brown, the suspect accused of killing four people in a bar in Montana on Friday morning, could return to the city of Anaconda, where the shooting occurred.
The Attorney General of Montana, Austin Knudsen, said at a news conference on Sunday afternoon that the suspect was “an unstable person who entered and murdered four people in cold blood, without any reason. So there is absolutely concern for the public.”
Knudsen said that Brown is believed to be “an armed and extremely dangerous individual” and advised the members of the public to remain attentive and call 911 immediately if they see it.
A $ 7,500 reward is offered to anyone with information about Brown, Knudsen added.
Knudsen also identified the four victims of the shooting on Friday morning as Barman Nancy Lauretta Kelley, 64, and three clients: Daniel Edwin Baillie, 59, David Allen Leach, 70, and Tony Wayne Palm, 74. All victims were Anaconda.
Kelley’s daughter, Kristian Kelley said his mother was a recently retired oncology nurse. He worked as a nurse for about 30 years and got part -time work as a waiter at the owl bar “to fill something of his time.”
“He kept it a bit social, just seeing people,” Kelley said. His mother had worked at the bar for about a year and a half, he said.
First he heard about the shooting at his mother’s workplace through a friend’s text message.
“My first step was to call it, and I didn’t get an answer,” he said. That was when he led Anaconda and discovered that his mother was a victim.
Kelley said he could never have imagined that such an incident would happen in Anaconda.
“We don’t even close our cars outside, you know, or the house, and it is, I mean, I would not say that it is dangerous here at all,” he said. “But when people do not receive services, you know, in rural areas, sometimes this is what happens.”
Knudsen said he was still under investigation, but pointed out that Brown was a regular at the bar, since he lived next to him. It is believed that Brown lived alone, Knudsen said.
“I think he is likely to know the Cantinero and these clients, which makes him even more atrocious,” Knudsen said.
Kelley said he knew Brown as someone in the community who would tell stories in depth and apparently invented about his time in the army.
“Maybe they were quite incredible, so I don’t know, but I think many of them were adorned,” he said. “And maybe he believed them. I’m not sure, but it was definitely someone who needed attention.”
Knudsen said the shooter used a rifle in the shooting and that Brown had access to firearms.
“We are going to catch this guy. This is still absolutely priority No. 1,” said Knudsen.
A human hunt has been underway since Friday morning, when it is alleged that Brown entered the owl bar around 10:30 am and opened fire, authorities said.
The authorities said Brown fled with a Tie-Dye shirt, blue jeans and an orange scarf. However, an image published on Saturday by the Department of Justice of Montana alleged showing that he flees from the scene apparently stripped only of his boxers.
Knudsen said the photo was taken “relatively soon” after the shooting and that Brown got rid of some of his belongings and clothing. However, he could have his hands in a stolen vehicle that had some clothes and now he is believed to be completely dressed, said Knudsen.
The law agents briefly chased Brown in that vehicle, but they retired when they realized that he was probably armed, Knudsen said. Brown was not in the vehicle when the police finally arrived.
Knudsen did not rule out that Brown could have committed suicide, but said that the authorities “are acting under the assumption that he is alive, well, armed and extremely dangerous.”
Brown is known by the Local Police and has a criminal record, said Knudsen.
Anyone who sees him to call 1-877-WANED2 is urged, Knudsen said. As the search continues, Knudsen did not rule out that additional arrests could be made.
Officials have focused the search for multipleGENCIES in the area in Stumptown Road and expand it to Lake Barker and the surrounding area. Brown is a resident of the area and is familiar with his land, Knudsen said in an interview.
“We have many locals on our side,” Knudsen said. “In addition, we have many assets in the air; we have many assets on the ground. We will find it.”
Knudsen said he thinks Brown is fleeing on foot, not in a vehicle.
“These things do not happen in Montana,” Knudsen said about the shooting. “This is extremely, extremely weird and out of the ordinary for us here, and I think that is shown through our response to the law application.”
Friends said Brown has a history of mental health problems. Shane Charles, who grew up with him in Anaconda and has another bar, told NBC News that Brown fought with post -traumatic stress disorder.
“Mike was a great guy when he was on his medications. He had some mental health problems,” Charles said.
Brown’s niece, Clare Boyle, also said Brown fought with mental health problems, according to Associated Press.
Brown served in the army from 2001 to 2005 and was deployed in Iraq from 2004 to 2005, and was in the National Guard of Montana from 2006 to 2009, said army spokesman Steve Warren.
CORRECTION (August 3, 2025, 5:20 PM ET): An earlier version of this article indicated the first name of the victim Nancy Lauretta Kelley’s daughter. She is Kristian Kelley, no Nancy.