A Montana town is on lockdown after multiple people were gunned down in a bar by an active shooter who remains at large.
A shelter in place is in effect for Anaconda after Michael Paul Brown is said to have opened fire at Owl Bar in the town on Friday afternoon.
One person who spoke with MTN News said they had been at a nearby bar and saw the shooter walking around with a rifle.
According to the Granite County Sheriff’s Office, Brown is being actively pursued by law enforcement.
The Anaconda Deer-Lodge County Law Enforcement Center released an image of Brown saying he was armed and dangerous.
Officials said that he was last seen wearing a tie-dyed t shirt, blue jeans and an orange bandana.
They had pulled over the driver of a white Ford F-150 after chasing after the vehicle, but Brown was not inside the vehicle.
SWAT teams also raided the property of Brown but he was not inside, the sheriff’s office urged locals to stay vigilant.
A shelter in place is in effect for Anaconda after Michael Paul Brown, seen here, is said to have opened fire at Owl Bar in the town on Friday afternoon
One person who spoke with MTN News said they had been at a nearby bar and saw the shooter walking around with a rifle
Officials said that Brown is wearing a tie-dyed t shirt, blue jeans and an orange bandana
According to the Granite County Sheriff’s Office, Brown is being actively pursued by law enforcement, The Owl Bar is seen here
NBC Montana reporter Josh Margolis shared an image of a SWAT team near the bar shortly after 1pm mountain time.
In a statement the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Denver office said that multiple people had been shot inside the premises.
They said: ‘ATF Denver is responding to a shooting where multiple parties have been shot at a business in Anaconda.’
A spokesperson for the FBI’s Salt Lake City office, which covers the area, said the bureau was assisting in the response.
The Montana Highway Patrol said: ‘There is a heavy law enforcement presence west of Anaconda near Stumptown Road and Anderson Ranch Loop Road.
‘Authorities are searching for a suspect believed to be armed. Please avoid the area.’
Governor Greg Gianforte said in a statement: ‘I’m closely monitoring the situation involving an active shooter in Anaconda.
‘Please join Susan and me in praying for the victims, their loved ones, and the brave law enforcement officers responding to this tragedy.’
This is a breaking news story.
