Montana's attorney general has released the names of four people killed in a mass shooting at a bar in Anaconda, as the search for the suspected gunman enters its third day. The victims were identified as Daniel Edwin Ballie, 59; Nancy Lauretta Kelly, 64; David Allen Leach, 70; and Tony Wayne Palm, 74, all residents of Anaconda.
The suspect, Michael Paul Brown, 45, a former US army soldier, is believed to have carried out the attack at The Owl Bar on Friday morning. Kelly worked as a bartender, while the others were patrons, according to Attorney General Austin Knudsen. Brown, who lived next door to the bar and was a regular customer, remains at large and is considered armed and dangerous.
Authorities warn that Brown may have changed his appearance and is travelling in a stolen vehicle containing camping gear and clothes. Knudsen described Brown as an unstable individual who murdered four people in cold blood for no apparent reason. A $7,500 reward has been offered for information leading to his capture.
Brown served in the army from 2001 to 2005, including a deployment to Iraq, and later in the Montana National Guard until 2009. His niece, Clare Boyle, told the Associated Press that her uncle had struggled with mental illness for years, and that family members had repeatedly sought help for him.
Local residents have been urged to remain vigilant, with numerous public events cancelled over the weekend. Robert Wyatt, a neighbour of victim David Leach, described him as a good neighbour who was always willing to help others. The investigation continues as law enforcement searches areas where Brown previously hunted and camped.
