Reward of $9,670 posted for man wanted on suspicion of shooting 4 dead at US bar

Straits Times

2 days ago

Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
The man accused of shooting four people dead in a Montana bar had vanished, sparking a search for him in the nearby mountains.
ANACONDA, Montana – The US Marshals Service on Aug 3 posted a $7,500 (S$9,673) reward for any information leading to the capture of the
man accused of shooting four people dead in a Montana bar before he vanished, sparking a search for the suspect in the nearby mountains.
State Attorney General Austin Knudsen visited the small south-western Montana town of Anaconda on the third day of the manhunt to be briefed by investigators and provide a public update. A former copper smelting hub in the Pintler Mountains, Anaconda lies in the Anaconda Range near the southern end of Montana's portion of the Rocky Mountains.
According to authorities, the suspect, Michael Brown, 45, walked into the Owl Bar late on Friday morning and opened fire with a rifle, killing the bartender and three patrons, then fled the scene.
A stolen pickup truck used as a getaway vehicle was later recovered, but law enforcement's last sighting of the suspect was during a brief pursuit about two hours after the shooting, Knudsen told reporters.
Investigators have yet to determine a motive, but Brown lived near the bar, was a regular there himself and presumably knew all four of his victims, Mr Knudsen said.
They were identified publicly on Aug 3 as bartender Nancy Lauretta Kelley, 64, and customers Daniel Edwin Baillie, 59, David Allen Leach, 70, and Tony Wayne Palm, 74.
The manhunt, which has involved as many as 250 local, state and federal law enforcement personnel and various aircraft, remained focused on a mountainous area west of Anaconda, a town of fewer than 10,000 residents about 120 km south-east of Missoula.
Top stories
Swipe. Select. Stay informed.
Singapore Live: Ong Beng Seng set to plead guilty in case involving ex-transport minister
Singapore The past and future of Choa Bungalow, a 'last reminder' of Marine Parade's former shoreline
Multimedia How Singapore is rethinking nature in the city
Business Are Gen Z-ers in Singapore worried about generative AI coming for their jobs?
World Trump is winning his trade war, but Americans will pay the price
Singapore No plans to fully liberalise cross-border ride-hailing services between Singapore and Johor: LTA
Singapore LTA, Singapore bus operators reviewing Malaysia's request to start services from JB at 4am
World Hamas says it will allow aid for hostages if Israel halts airstrikes, opens humanitarian corridors
'We want to find this guy,' Mr Knudsen said. 'This is a dangerous individual who has committed an absolutely heinous crime against this community and his victims.'
Authorities have released a photo showing the suspect dressed only in black underpants and barefoot as he descends a flight of concrete steps with his hands braced against a wall. His face is smudged, and his chest and neck appear to be scraped.
Mr Knudsen said the photo was taken after Brown had fled to another location near the shooting where 'he got rid of some personal belongings and he got rid of his clothes'.
The vehicle he is suspected of stealing was loaded with camping gear, and 'we have very good reason to believe that he is clothed, he does have shoes, and he's probably able to get around,' Mr Knudsen said.
The attorney general said Brown also was presumed to still be carrying the murder weapon.
Asked whether he believed authorities expected to find him dead or alive, Mr Knudsen said, 'He could have committed suicide and be dead, yes, but we are acting under the assumption that he is alive, well armed and extremely dangerous.'
He said the reward of US$7,500 offered by the US Marshals Service for information leading to his arrest was an initial sum, indicating it might be increased. REUTERS