As search for mass shooting suspect enters its fourth day, authorities 'fairly confident he is in a confined area'; Update: Daines says suspect 'in a very tight radius just outside the town'

The search for the suspect in Friday’s mass shooting that killed four people inside the Owl Bar in Anaconda is still ongoing, as the hunt for Michael Paul Brown in area of Stumptown Road has entered its fourth day. 

And, after Sunday’s developments that saw significant law enforcement presence in that area, authorities feel that while he was not apprehended at that time they are “fairly confident that he is in a confined area” within proximity to where the vehicle was located that he used to flee the scene of the shooting. 

Anaconda-Deer Lodge County Chief Executive Bill Everett spoke with the Anaconda Leader via telephone on Monday, stating that it is still an active situation and that there are teams of law enforcement officers from local, state and federal agencies looking for him in the area where there were reports that he had been sighted on Sunday.

“Yesterday they believed there was a sighting of him in the area. They weren’t able to make an arrest, however they feel fairly confident that he is in a confined area,” Everett said. “Obviously the community needs to continue to be vigilant, but we do not believe there is an immediate risk to the community at this time.”

While authorities believe Brown is still within the area of Stumptown Road – which remains closed to the public – the closures of both the Garrity Mountain Wildlife Management Area and of Barker Lake and the surrounding area to the west and south of the WMA remain in effect.

Everett said that the list of agencies responding to the situation from across the state is extensive, and he thanked them all for their support. 

“We’ve got them here from all over the place. It’s been amazing the cooperation we’ve been getting. All the law enforcement officers are coming together on this one,” he said. “Everyone is going full bore up there. The amount of support we’re getting is phenomenal.”

He also said that the aerial surveillance, including helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft, that have been assisting on the search will be available “anytime they’re needed.”

“Every time they feel that aircraft could be useful, they will be here, they’ll be available anytime they want,” he said. 

While authorities do not believe there is any immediate risk to the community and the town has largely reopened, there remains the question as to whether the upcoming Smeltermen’s Day Weekend events of Aug. 8-10 will proceed. Everett said no decision has been made as yet on that, saying that decision “will probably wait until Wednesday morning.”

“We’re very hopeful the situation will be resolved by then. If not, that’ll be decided Wednesday morning,” he said. “We’ll take a lot of direction from state and federal agencies as far as what’s best for our community. We want this to be over as soon as possible. The other part of it is, our community is going to have to go through a grieving period. We went through a horrible tragedy, and unfortunately since we’re up against that situation right now we can’t even go through that process.”

As to that tragedy, authorities have identified Brown, a 45-year-old Anaconda man, as the gunman who entered the Owl Bar on the morning of Friday, Aug. 1 and shot four people to death before fleeing the scene in a stolen white pickup truck that was later found in the Stumptown Road area. 

The four victims who were killed in Friday’s shootings have been identified as 59-year-old Daniel Edwin Baillie, 64-year-old Nancy Lauretta Kelley, 70-year-old David Allen Leach, and 74-year-old Tony Wayne Palm. All four were residents of Anaconda.

A longtime resident who lived next door to the historic bar on the 800 block of East 3rd Street in Anaconda, Brown is described by Anaconda-Deer Lodge County 911 Dispatch as last seen wearing a black shirt with what appears to be blue flames at the bottom, gray or blue pants and an orange bandana. 

An image from a security camera released by the Division of Criminal Investigation at the Montana Department of Justice shows Brown fleeing the scene wearing only a black pair of shorts and without shoes on. However, it was later confirmed that the image was taken after he discarded the clothing he was wearing and that he had changed his clothing and put on shoes before fleeing the scene as the stolen vehicle is believed by authorities to have had some clothing as well as camping equipment in it. 

Brown has short, dark hair, is of thin build, and appears unshaven, but unlike other photos shared of him he was not shown to have a mustache or full beard in the security camera footage. 

Brown is considered to be armed and extremely dangerous. If you see him, do not approach him, and call 911 right away. 

Also, the U.S Marshals Service is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for any information that leads to the arrest or capture of Brown, which is an increase from the $7,500 reward announced on Sunday. Citizens are encouraged to call 1-877-WANTED2 (1-877-926-8332) to report a tip.

Update (6:45 p.m. Monday, Aug. 4):

ADLC Chief of Law Enforcement Bill Sather held a press event Monday evening on the steps of the courthouse where he provided the following statement, which also was posted onto the Anaconda-Deer Lodge County Law Enforcement Center page on Facebook:

"I want to talk directly to the people of Anaconda."

"I am grateful for the support that our community has received. I’m grateful for all of the law enforcement assistance our department has been offered."

"Knowing that the Attorney General and other officials have provided information to the media and to the public, I wanted you to hear it from me: We are working around the clock to locate Michael Paul Brown."

"Your Anaconda law enforcement officers are working hand in hand with the folks from the assisting agencies. I recognize the public wanting regular updates and know that you haven’t heard directly from me as much as you’d like. I am focusing my efforts on finding Mr. Brown. Your law enforcement officers are doing the same."

"It's important that you know that we are doing everything we can to keep Anacondans safe. If there is a need to convey a security risk, other than has already been said, we will make sure that you know." 

"Please understand that the search is ongoing and though there are hundreds of individuals working tirelessly and information on the ground is changing at all times, there is not a substantial update to provide to the community at this time. The search is ongoing. When something new arises, you will know."

"In the meantime, please be patient with those working to locate Mr. Brown. Please remain vigilant and continue to call in any reports to law enforcement."

Update (9:45 p.m. Monday, Aug. 4): 

U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R-Montana) appeared on Fox News’ Special Report earlier today where he discussed the ongoing manhunt in the Anaconda area for Michael Paul Brown. The senator’s remarks on a nationally televised program appear to confirm that law enforcement "have got a perimeter around [Brown]" and that he is “in a very tight radius just outside the town of Anaconda.”

Asked by the program’s host about potential threats to the National Parks or other public lands in and around the state due to the ongoing situation, which has seen the closure of the Garrity Mountain Wildlife Management Area as well as a portion of the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest including Barker Lake and the surrounding area, Daines said "there's no problem with our National Parks. They're fine. We know where this guy is at."

"I'm getting regular updates from local law enforcement that are right there on the front lines. We know where he's at. We've got a good perimeter around him at the moment. We're going to bring this guy out one way or the other. Dead or alive, we're going to get him. I’m very confident, but it's located in a very tight radius just outside the town of Anaconda, just in Southwest Montana," Daines said.

Saying it's "such a tragic situation" and that "the town of Anaconda has just been gut punched" by the murder of four people at the Owl Bar – Daniel Edwin Baillie, Nancy Lauretta Kelley, David Allen Leach, and Tony Wayne Palm – the senator also remarked on Brown and the efforts to apprehend him. 

"Michael Brown ... was suffering mental illness, challenges. He went in and shot those four in that bar, and then he fled just west of Anaconda. I mean, this is a local. He knows the territory well, but I’m very proud of law enforcement," Daines said. "We've got the FBI. We've got our county sheriffs across multiple counties, as well as highway patrol resources and others that have got a perimeter around him. We're hoping that we will bring him and apprehend him, bring him to justice soon. But he's hiding just west of Anaconda. And we pray for the safety of those brave men and women who are operating a 24/7 operation. They're using infrared cameras. They've got dogs. They've had a few hits with the dogs. I'm hopeful that very shortly our law enforcement is going to get this guy and apprehend him and bring him out."

The video of Daines’ remarks are available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8b5moGJcn2M, the beginning of which include his commentary on a U.S. Department of Justice investigation into an unrelated matter. The senator’s comments on the situation in Anaconda start at the video's 1:49 mark.

Editor's note: In addition to the updates above, this article has been updated to show the closure announcements and affected areas referred to earlier in the story. It has also been updated to include the increased reward amount for information leading to Brown's arrest or capture.