Military veteran arrested week after fatal Montana shooting

A military veteran accused of killing four people in a bar shooting in the US state of Montana last week has been arrested, according to officials.

Michael Paul Brown, a US Army veteran, is accused of opening fire inside the Owl Bar in the city of Anaconda on 1 August.

Local, state and federal authorities launched a manhunt, finding the suspect fled to the nearby foothills and shed his clothing after the attack at the pub, where he was reportedly a regular.

No motive for the attack has been released.

"I am proud of the unrelenting law enforcement effort this week to find and arrest Michael Paul Brown," Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen said, announcing the arrest.

He said the suspect had been located in the Anaconda area, a town with a population of almost 10,000 in south-western Montana that is surrounded by dense, mountainous terrain.

The state's governor, Greg Gianforte, posted on X about the arrest and lauded the "incredible response from law enforcement officers across Montana".

Officials have said the suspect walked into the pub, which he frequented and lived next door to, and opened fire almost immediately. The bar's owner has told US media that he believed the suspect just "snapped".

"He knew everybody that was in that bar," David Gwerder, owner of The Owl Bar, told the Associated Press. "He didn't have any running dispute with any of them. I just think he snapped."

The victims have been identified as Barmaid Nancy Lauretta Kelley, 64, and three customers - Daniel Edwin Baillie, 59, David Allen Leach, 70, and Tony Wayne Palm, 74.

Mr Brown is a veteran of the US Armed Forces who served as an armour crewman from 2001-05 and was deployed to Iraq from 2004-05, a military spokeswoman told US media.

After the shooting authorities found a white Ford-150 pick-up truck that they said the suspect had used to get away, but no sign of him.

Authorities also released a photo appearing to show Mr Brown fleeing the area.

In the photo, a man is seen shirtless, barefoot and wearing only black shorts, and walking down stairs while leaning against a stone wall.

Mr Knudsen said the photo was taken after the suspect got rid of some personal belongings and his clothes.

He believes Mr Brown later got other clothes and shoes, and was "able to get around".