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Anaconda, Montana – A shooting at the Owl Bar in Anaconda late Sunday night left four people dead, including the gunman, identified as Michael Paul Brown, 44. Authorities responded too reports of gunfire at approximately 9:30 PM MST, finding three victims deceased at the scene and Brown later found dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Shooter’s History and Mental Health Struggles
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Brown, a veteran who served in the Army and Montana National Guard, had a documented history of mental health challenges, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). A longtime acquaintance who also owns a bar in anaconda, identified as Charles, told NBC News that Brown’s condition improved when he was consistently taking medication. “Mike was a great guy when he was on his meds. He did have some mental health problems,” Charles stated.
Clare Boyle, Brown’s niece, echoed these concerns in a Facebook post reported by The Associated Press, stating, “This isn’t just a drunk/high man going wild. It’s a sick man who doesn’t know who he is sometimes and frequently doesn’t know where or when he is either.”
Brown’s military service spanned from January 2001 to May 2005 as an armor crewman, followed by service in the Montana National guard from April 2006 to March 2009. He completed a deployment to iraq from February 2004 to March 2005, serving with the 1-309th Combined Arms battalion. He left the Army in 2009 with the rank of sergeant.
The Victims
Nancy Lauretta Kelley, 64, a retired oncology nurse with approximately 30 years of experience, was among those killed. She had recently begun working part-time as a bartender at the Owl Bar roughly 18 months prior to the shooting, according to her daughter, Kristian Kelley. Kelley described her mother as seeking the bartending job to stay active in retirement.
Kristian Kelley learned of the shooting via text message and was unable to reach her mother by phone. She later traveled to Anaconda and confirmed her mother’s death. kelley noted that Brown was known in the community for recounting stories from his military service, which she believed were frequently enough exaggerated.”maybe they were pretty amazing, so I don’t know, but I think a lot of them were embellished,” she said. “And maybe he believed them. I’m not sure, but he definitely was somebody that needed care.”
Kelley expressed shock at the violence, emphasizing the typically safe nature of Anaconda. “We didn’t even lock our cars outside, you know, or the house, and it’s, I mean, I wouldn’t say it’s hazardous here at all,” she said. “But when people don’t receive services, you know, in rural areas, sometimes this is what happens.”
David Allen Leach, 70, also perished in the shooting. Leach, who was deaf, resided in a public housing complex designed for elderly individuals and people with disabilities.
Robert Wyatt, a neighbor of Leach’s, described him as a helpful and kind individual. “He was a good neighbor,” Wyatt told The Associated Press. “if you needed help, Dave would help.”
Rural Mental Health Access and Veteran Resources
the shooting has reignited conversations about access to mental healthcare in rural communities like Anaconda, Montana (population approximately 9,600). Limited resources and geographical barriers often create notable challenges for individuals seeking treatment for conditions like PTSD. Deer Lodge County, where Anaconda is located, is designated as a Mental Health Professional Shortage Area by the Health Resources and Services
