'He needed help': Friend of Anaconda shooting suspect Michael Brown says he was struggling with PTSD, thought he was still in Army

Michael Paul Brown, the suspect of Friday morning's mass shooting at The Owl Bar in Anaconda, is still at large and now people who know him revealed what made the Army veteran a crazy gunman who killed four inside the bar.

Brown was last seen driving a stolen 2007 white Ford F-150 pickup truck bearing Montana license plate DTY493. The vehicle was reportedly heading west from Anaconda on Stumptown Road at the time it was spotted.Brown was described as a 5 feet 10 inches tall person, weighing around 170 pounds, with blue eyes and brown hair. His residence, located next to the bar, was cleared by a SWAT team, but he was not found there. The shooting spread panic as the small Anaconda city was put on lockdown during the search.

As of 9:40 pm yesterday, the Granite County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that Brown was still at large. “There is a perimeter set in the Stumptown area,” the agency stated in a public advisory. “Granite County Deputies will be patrolling the Georgetown Lake area and nearby towns. Stay vigilant—lock your doors and vehicles.”According to a local news report, one friend described Brown as a "gentle soul" who was struggling with PTSD and it was known to everyone in the area.

45-year-old Brown served in teh US Army as an armor crewman from 2001 to 2005 and was deployed to Iraq between early 2004 and March 2005. He later served in the Montana National Guard from 2006 until March 2009, leaving military service with the rank of sergeant. Brown's friend said he had untreated mental health issues and used to share delusional stories about still operating in special forces. Local residents were concerned about his mental health and it was reported to the authorities but there was no intervention. “He needed help,” the friend said. “It’s devastating that no one listened until it was too late.”Bar owner David Gwerder, who was not present during the shooting, told the Associated Press that he believes Brown personally knew all four victims. “He didn’t have any disputes with them. I just think he snapped,” Gwerder said.