Montana Governor Greg Gianforte signed an executive order Tuesday to provide more resources for local law enforcement as they searched for a former U.S. soldier suspected of killing four people in a bar on August 1.
The search for Michael Paul Brown stretched into Day 5, with more than three law enforcement agencies helping top Montana officials describe the state’s highest priorities in the press conference.
Meanwhile, the July killing of a abandoned parents, grandmother and an infant uncle in the front yard in western Tennessee has been arrested, police said.
Officials say Austin Robert Drummond faces four counts of first-degree murder, one of which is aggravated kidnapping and weapons offense.
In Montana, a team with the state's National Guard has flew nearly 20 hours since the killing of Anaconda's Owl Bar, looking for any clues to Brown's whereabouts, as a hike search of an undisclosed officer.
Gianfolt said: “Don't worry, our brave men and women have not given up on law enforcement, and I ask you not to give up on them either.”
Authorities say Brown, 45, shot four people with a rifle at the Owl Bar, which police believe was his personal weapon. They claimed he fled a white pickup truck, which he later abandoned and stole another white vehicle with clothes, shoes and camping supplies.
A female bartender and three male customers were killed. They were identified as Nancy Lauretta Kelley, 64; Daniel Edwin Baillie, 59; David Allen Leach, 70; and Tony Wayne Palm, 74.
The shooting shocked Anaconda, a close-knit town of about 9,000 people. Many residents are still on high alert and the suspects are still large.
Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen reiterated Tuesday that authorities operated under the assumption that Brown was armed and extremely dangerous.
Northon said no further details were provided, and there was evidence that authorities were conducting searches in the right areas. As the search continues, the National Forest System has been shut down by the National Forest System, about 22 square miles (57 square kilometers) have been shut down in the forest southwest of Anaconda. Knudsen added that it appears that Brown has not destroyed any cottages or houses in the area for food or other supplies.
Nordson and investigators declined to share the number of active law enforcement officers in Tuesday's search. Searches are also using dog detectors and drones equipped with thermal detection technology.
Federal authorities have offered up to $10,000 in rewards for any information that led to Brown's arrest.
Family members say Brown has been struggling with mental illness for years and they have been seeking help.
Brown lives next door to Owl Bar, served as an armored crew in the army from 2001 to 2005, and was deployed to Iraq from early 2004 to March 2005.
In Tennessee, two men outside Drummond were arrested for accusing them of assisting him, investigators said.
Officials said the victim was found dead in Tiptonville, Tennessee, about 40 miles from the baby at the center of the case. They were identified as James M Wilson, 21; Adrianna Williams, 20; Cortney Rose, 38; and Braydon Williams, 15.
Police said Drummond had a relationship with the victim and the killing was targeted.
Jackson said in a social media post that Drummond was detained during Tuesday's search. Shortly after police warned Jackson residents about 74 miles (119 kilometers) from the Tiptonville crime scene, he received a report saying he was found nearby.
Automatic news from the local public defender's office said that a call will be returned later.