Tony Wayne Palm, a 74-year-old White male, was a lifelong resident of Anaconda, Montana, a town where he was known for his kind and gentle nature. On the morning of August 1, 2025, his life was tragically cut short when he was shot and killed while patronizing The Owl Bar, a local establishment in Anaconda. Palm was one of four victims in a mass shooting that shocked the small community.
The other victims were identified as the bartender, Nancy Lauretta Kelley, 64, and two other patrons, Daniel Edwin Baillie, 59, and David Allen Leach, 70.
The incident unfolded at approximately 10:30 a.m. when a gunman entered The Owl Bar and opened fire. The suspect was quickly identified as 45-year-old Michael Paul Brown, a former U.S. soldier who lived next door to the bar. Witnesses reported that Brown used a rifle in the attack. Following the shooting, Brown fled the scene, sparking an extensive week-long manhunt that involved local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. The search centered on the mountainous terrain west of Anaconda after Brown's vehicle was found abandoned.
The search for Brown created a climate of fear in Anaconda, with residents urged to stay vigilant as the armed and dangerous suspect remained at large. Authorities warned that Brown was an "unstable individual." His family later stated that he had a history of mental illness. After a week of intense searching, Michael Paul Brown was apprehended on August 8, 2025. He was found armed near a bar west of Anaconda and was taken into custody. Brown was subsequently charged with four counts of murder, as well as arson, theft, and eluding police. A trial date was set for January 12, 2026, and he was held without the possibility of bail.
