Daniel Ballie,Nancy Kelly Obituary, Death; – Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen announced during a press conference on Sunday morning the identities of the four individuals who lost their lives in a shooting incident in Anaconda on Friday.
Michael Brown, aged 45, is alleged to have murdered Daniel Ballie, 59, Nancy Kelly, 64, David Leach, 70, and Tony Palm, 74. All victims were residents of Anaconda, a town with a population of fewer than 10,000 according to the 2020 census.
The search for Brown has extended into a third day as of Sunday.
The tragic shooting at The Owl Bar sent shockwaves through the community of Anaconda on Friday, prompting a lockdown as law enforcement urged residents to remain indoors.
As the search for Brown progressed into the weekend, a more detailed profile of the suspect began to emerge. Brown had previously served in the U.S. Army and the Montana National Guard until 2009.
In a comprehensive written statement to NonStop Local, Brown’s niece, Clare Boyle, characterized her uncle as “a very mentally ill veteran.” She indicated that Brown “developed schizophrenia” during his service in Iraq and Afghanistan, which prevented him from being deployed while in the National Guard due to his mental health issues. Property records verified by law enforcement indicate that Brown resided directly adjacent to The Owl Bar.
“It appears he was a frequent patron of this establishment, as he literally lived next door,” Knudsen remarked on Sunday. “I believe it is likely he was acquainted with the bartender and these patrons, which renders this act even more atrocious.”
Authorities reported that Brown fled the scene following the shooting on Friday, but he later abandoned the stolen vehicle he was operating. Search operations on Saturday were primarily concentrated in the vicinity of Stumptown Road, west of Anaconda, where officials established a perimeter.
On Sunday morning, Knudsen praised the extensive search efforts by law enforcement but acknowledged that the strategy would evolve over the next 24 hours.
“We are determined to apprehend this individual,” Knudsen stated. “In all likelihood, you will observe a shift in the law enforcement response within the next 24 hours. We have a substantial amount of resources at our disposal.
