In the quiet town of Anaconda, Montana, the morning of August 1, 2025, was shattered by an act of violence that claimed the life of 70-year-old David Allen Leach, a White male. Leach was a patron at the Owl Bar, a local tavern, when a gunman entered and opened fire. He, along with the bartender and two other patrons, was fatally shot in the attack.
David "Dave" Leach, born on April 25, 1955, in Whitefish, Montana, had developed a strong affection for the community of Anaconda where he
spent the later years of his life. A graduate of Columbia Falls High School in 1973, he was a three-sport letterman in basketball, football, and track. After high school, he earned a certificate in Heating and Air Conditioning from Utah Technical College and worked in that field for several years before a career with Caterpillar Inc. in Denver, Colorado. He eventually returned to his home state of Montana, living in various cities before settling in Anaconda. Friends and former classmates remembered him as a kind, well-liked, and athletic individual.
The suspect in the shooting was quickly identified as 45-year-old Michael Paul Brown, a military veteran who lived next door to the Owl Bar. Authorities stated that Brown was a regular at the establishment and likely knew the victims. Following the shooting, Brown fled the scene, prompting a massive manhunt involving local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. For days, the community remained on high alert as officials scoured the heavily forested and mountainous terrain surrounding Anaconda. A $10,000 reward was offered for information leading to his capture.
The extensive search concluded on August 8, 2025, when a multi-agency fugitive task force apprehended Michael Paul Brown. He was subsequently charged with four counts of deliberate homicide, as well as arson, theft, and eluding police. In a court appearance on September 3, 2025, Brown pleaded not guilty to all charges. He was held without bail pending a trial scheduled to begin in January 2026.
