Four people killed in Montana shooting, authorities search for gunman

Authorities are searching for a gunman who allegedly opened fire at a Montana bar on Friday morning and killed four people, officials and media reports say.

Law enforcement announced on social media that officers responded to reports of an active shooter in the small town of Anaconda, Mont., around 11:40 a.m. PST. The Associated Press confirmed the four fatalities in an alert later Friday afternoon.

“There is an active shooter in Anaconda Deer Lodge,” the Granite County Sheriff’s Office said on Facebook. “Granite County deputies are at the Georgetown Lake / Flint Creek area. The shooter is said to be wearing a tye dyed shirt, blue jeans and an orange bandana.”

The sheriff’s office asked community members to remain vigilant while they search for the suspect, who they later identified as 45-year-old Michael Brown of Anaconda. Federal law enforcement also responded to help, including SWAT and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Deputies at one point were in pursuit of a white F-150 in the area, but soon learned the driver was not the shooting suspect. According to local officials, SWAT later cleared the suspect’s house in Anaconda, finding no trace of the alleged gunman.

“I’m closely monitoring the situation involving an active shooter in Anaconda,” said Montana Governor Greg Gianforte. “Please join Susan and me in praying for the victims, their loved ones, and the brave law enforcement officers responding to this tragedy.”

Authorities asked the community to avoid the Anaconda area and to report any suspicious activity to local law enforcement.

This is a developing story.

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