ANACONDA, Mont. — Montana authorities confirm Michael Paul Brown, the suspect believed to be involved in last week’s Anaconda mass shooting, is now in custody.

According to a press release from the Attorney General’s Office, at approximately 2 p.m. Friday, authorities apprehended and arrested Michael Paul Brown near the search area in Anaconda. He is now in custody of Anaconda-Deer Lodge County authorities.

Lee Johnson, administrator of the Montana Division of Criminal Investigation, said search teams found Brown at a structure near The Ranch Bar and that he looked to be “in pretty good shape, physically.” He was communicative and able to identify himself, Johnson said. Brown was taken to a hospital for treatment and was medically cleared earlier Friday.

Eric Hempstead, who owns The Ranch Bar, about 5 miles west of The Owl Bar, described an intense law enforcement presence in the densely wooded area over the last couple of days that involved search dogs and drones.

“The guy was never going to make it out in the open,” he said, noting that he and his neighbors were armed and ready to protect themselves.

Attorney General Knudsen released the following statement: “I am proud of the unrelenting law enforcement effort this week to find and arrest Michael Paul Brown. The support we’ve seen for the community of Anaconda from across the state and the nation has also been remarkable. The families and friends of the victims remain in my prayers.”

Gov. Greg Gianforte confirmed Brown’s capture on social media Friday afternoon, saying it was an incredible response from law enforcement officers across the state. “May God continue to be with the families of the four victims still grieving their loss,” he said.

Brown is accused of killing four people at the Owl Bar in Anaconda last Friday.

Officials say Brown entered the bar at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 1 and opened fire, killing one bartender and three patrons.

The names of the victims were released on Sunday. They are identified as 59-year-old Daniel Edwin Baillie, 64-year-old Nancy Lauretta Kelley, 70-year-old David Allen Leach and 74-year-old Tony Wayne Palm.

Brown was reportedly seen driving a stolen 2007 white Ford F-150 pickup with Montana plates. That vehicle was found last Friday afternoon.

Officials say Brown fled into the mountains where dozens of local, state and federal authorities searched for just over one week.

The owner of the Owl Bar says he believes the four victims were the only ones present during the shooting and he isn’t aware of any prior conflicts between them and Brown.

“He knew everybody that was in that bar. I guarantee you that,” Gwerder said. “He didn’t have any running dispute with any of them. I just think he snapped.”

Brown served in the U.S. Army as an armor crewman from 2001 to 2005 and deployed to Iraq from early 2004 until March 2005, according to Lt. Col. Ruth Castro, an Army spokesperson. Brown was in the Montana National Guard from 2006 to March 2009, Castro said. He left military service in the rank of sergeant.

Officials confirmed Brown lived near the bar and was most likely a frequent patron.

Attorney General Knudsen released the following update on the arrest of the Anaconda shooting suspect:

Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen, Governor Greg Gianforte, and other state, local, and federal officials held a press conference tonight to update the community on the arrest of the suspect in the August 1 murders in Anaconda. At the press conference, authorities also released the suspect’s mugshot.

On Friday, August 8 around 2 p.m., authorities apprehended and placed Michael Paul Brown under arrest after a week-long search. Brown was arrested in a structure located within the search area, which was previously searched and cleared, without incident. He is currently being held at the Butte-Silver Bow Detention Center.

“It’s a good day. We got the man. Michael Paul Brown is in custody. I am proud of the unrelenting law enforcement effort this week – federal, state, and local agencies came together to get the job done,” Attorney General Austin Knudsen said.

There were dozen of agencies involved in the search. Task force officers led by the U.S. Marshals Service and including officers from the Montana Highway Patrol, Laurel Police Department, Great Falls Police Department, the U.S. Forest Service, and the Montana Division of Criminal Investigation were involved in today’s takedown.

“Our brave men and women in uniform didn’t waste a second. Law enforcement jumped into action, began the search with the promise to not give up until they found this suspect,” Governor Gianforte said at the press conference.

“The work that our local officers, standing arm to arm with U.S. Marshals, federal agents, members of law enforcement from communities across Montana – the work you all did is incredible. It’s often tireless and thankless work, but I hope that all of you that worked in find Michael Paul Brown know how thankful the entire community of Anaconda is to go to sleep tonight and finally rest,” Deer Lodge County Attorney Morgan Smith said.

Governor Greg Gianforte released the following update on the arrest of the Anaconda shooting suspect:

Governor Greg Gianforte today held a press conference to praise law enforcement for making an arrest of the suspect involved in a recent shooting in Anaconda that resulted in the death of four Montanans.

“Thanks to the tireless efforts of law enforcement, Michael Paul Brown is now in custody,” Gov. Gianforte said. “Justice will be served. As we turn the page on this tragedy, we must continue to pray for the victims’ families.”

According to the Montana Department of Justice, authorities apprehended and arrested Michael Paul Brown near the search area in Anaconda at approximately 2 p.m. on Friday. He is now in custody and currently being held at the Butte-Silver Bow Detention Center.

“I am proud of the unrelenting law enforcement effort this week to find and arrest Michael Paul Brown,” Attorney General Austin Knudsen said. “The support we’ve seen for the community of Anaconda from across the state and the nation has also been remarkable. The families and friends of the victims remain in my prayers.”

On Friday, August 1, around 10:30 a.m., 45-year-old Michael Brown walked into The Owl Bar and opened fire killing four people before fleeing the scene.

During a briefing on Tuesday with Attorney General Austin Knudsen, Anaconda Deer Lodge County Attorney Morgan Smith, Anaconda Deer Lodge Police Chief Bill Sather, Montana Division of Criminal Investigation Administrator Lee Johnson, and representatives of the FBI, Montana National Guard, and U.S. Marshals Service, the governor received an update on the ongoing search for Brown.

Earlier this week, the governor signed an executive order to use state emergency funds to support law enforcement responding to the event, specifically to assist with overtime pay.

According to County Attorney Morgan Smith, over 38 local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies had responded and assisted in the ongoing search for Michael Brown.

Since Friday, Anaconda Deer Lodge law enforcement agencies had received support from the Montana Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, the U.S. Marshals Service, the FBI, and the Montana National Guard with canines, aerial resources, manpower, and other supports for the search.

“Thanks to the work of all law enforcement partners, the entire community of Anaconda is going to sleep tonight and truly rest. For myself and many others involved in the investigation, this isn’t the end, this is the beginning. I am confident in the investigative work that has been done to this point and confident in the work to come to prosecute this case to the fullest extent of the law,” Anaconda Deer Lodge County Attorney Morgan Smith said.