The suspect in a mass shooting that killed a bartender and three patrons at a bar in Montana has been arrested after a week-long manhunt.
Michael Brown, a 45-year-old U.S. Army veteran, is accused of fatally shooting four people with a rifle at the Owl Bar in the tight-knit community of Anaconda on August 1.
He was taken into custody Friday, according to the Lewis and Clark County Sheriff’s Office.
Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen identified the victims as bar attendant Nancy Kelley, 64, and customers Daniel Baillie, 59, David Leach, 70, and Tony Palm, 74.
Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte commented on the arrest shortly after it was announced, and praised law enforcement for their efforts.
“May God continue to be with the families of the four victims still grieving their loss,” he wrote on social media.
Brown, who lived next door to the bar, allegedly entered the Owl Bar on East 3rd Street last Friday, with the first gunshots ringing out about 10.30 a.m., according to the Montana Division of Criminal Investigation.
Bar owner David Gwerder previously told NBC Montana that he wasn’t aware of any conflicts between the victims and Brown.
“He knew everybody that was in that bar. I guarantee you that,” he said. “He didn’t have any running dispute with any of them. I just think he snapped.”
The suspected gunman was believed to have used his own weapon in the shooting, Knudsen said, before he was seen fleeing the bar on security footage.
“This is an unstable individual who walked in and murdered four people in cold blood for no reason whatsoever. So there absolutely is concern for the public,” Knudsen warned, as police launched the search for the suspect.
Law enforcement had contact with the suspect at about noon on the day of the shooting during a chase, Knudsen said. He then fled to the nearby foothills in a stolen white Ford F-150 with camping gear inside. Authorities believe that Brown ditched that vehicle and stole a different one.
A photo released by the attorney general’s office showed Brown having removed his clothes, only wearing underwear.
He remained on the run for a week while police launched a massive manhunt.
“For the past week, Anaconda and the surrounding community showed the country the resilience and grit that makes MT special. Our thoughts continue to be with the victims and their families,” Montana Sen. Steve Daniels wrote on social media after the arrest.
