Governor Gianforte Provides Update on Anaconda Manhunt

Signs executive order to support local law enforcement

• August 05 2025

ANACONDA, Mont. – Governor Greg Gianforte today received a briefing and held a press conference regarding the status of an active investigation and ongoing search for the suspect involved in a recent shooting in Anaconda that resulted in the death of four Montanans.

“This morning, I received a briefing on the status of the ongoing investigation and search for the suspect,” Gov. Gianforte said. “Since the tragic event, our Montana law enforcement officers have been unrelenting, working around the clock to bring the suspect Michael Brown to justice for his heinous acts.”

Gov. Gianforte holding a press conference in Anaconda with Attorney General Austin Knudsen, County Attorney Morgan Smith, and representatives of local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies

Opening the press conference, Gov. Gianforte held a moment of silence for the victims 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. The governor shared he’s spoken with each of their families.

“I’ve spoken with members of the victims’ families and shared condolences on behalf of the people of Montana. Please keep them in your prayers,” Gov. Gianforte said.

According to the Montana Department of Justice, on Friday, August 1, around 10:30 a.m., 45-year-old Michael Brown walked into The Owl Bar and opened fire killing four people before fleeing the scene. At the time of the governor’s press conference, Brown remains at large.

During a briefing with Attorney General Austin Knudsen, Anaconda Deer Lodge County Attorney Morgan Smith, Anaconda Deer Lodge Police Chief Bill Sather, Montana Division of Criminal Investigation Administrator Lee Johnson, and representatives of the FBI, Montana National Guard, and U.S. Marshals Service, the governor received an update on the ongoing search for Brown.

Following the briefing, Gov. Gianforte held a press conference to thank all participating law enforcement agencies for their support in the search before announcing he recently signed an executive order to use state emergency funds to support law enforcement responding to the event, specifically to assist with overtime pay.

“Under Montana law, I am able to release emergency funds to support law enforcement if the local agency requests it. This morning, I received that request from Anaconda Deer Lodge,” the governor said. “While the state has already been supporting this investigation, this will ensure additional resources are available as we continue to track down this criminal. In particular, these additional financial resources from the state’s emergency response fund will help pay local law enforcement overtime expenses to continue the search.”

During the press conference, Attorney General Knudsen praised the governor for the support and thanked coordinating agencies for their continuing search and investigation.

“Thank you, Governor. This release of assets and resources is going to allow us to keep this manhunt going,” Attorney General Knudsen said. “This is very labor intensive, it’s very resource intensive to support these tactical teams and the manpower. Knowing the State of Montana stepped up to offset some of those costs is a huge, huge help for us.”

According to County Attorney Morgan Smith, over 38 local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies have responded and assisted in the ongoing search for Michael Brown.

Since Friday, Anaconda Deer Lodge law enforcement agencies have received support from the Montana Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, the U.S. Marshals Service, the FBI, and the Montana National Guard with canines, aerial resources, manpower, and other supports.

“Coordination of hundreds from all of those agencies has been a difficult task. They are responding to every call. Every tip. They're tirelessly searching the area where the suspect was last seen,” County Attorney Smith said. “Any call that comes in of a potential sighting of Michael Paul Brown or a suspicious person in an unexpected location, or a concern when someone has an inability to reach a loved one and a concern that they've been harmed – every one of those calls is being investigated.”

The governor shared the Montana National Guard has supported with a helicopter and four soldiers, flying over 19 hours from Friday through Sunday assisting in the search and providing transportation of law enforcement personnel.

The Montana Department of Justice is conducting the ongoing investigation and assisting local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies with the search. The U.S Marshals Service is now offering a reward of $10,000 for any information that leads to the arrest or capture of Michael Brown. Citizens are encouraged to call 1-877-926-8332 to report a tip.

Watch Governor Gianforte’s press conference here and view the executive order here.

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