ANACONDA — The owner of Carmel's Bar in Anaconda has been shot and killed, less than a year after four people were murdered at the Owl Bar just two blocks away.
Shane Charles was shot around 6:50 p.m. and died at the hospital. Suspect Mark Lock, 61, of Anaconda, fled the scene before being arrested near his home several blocks away.
WATCH: A bar owner in Anaconda was shot and killed near the site of last year's deadly Owl Bar murders. Here's what we know.
The shooting has reopened wounds for neighbors and business owners still recovering from the Owl Bar murders 10 months ago.
"It opens up old wounds again. We have to start all over again. We haven't healed up from the first go-around," Owl Bar owner David Gwerder said.
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Despite the back-to-back tragedies, Gwerder said he does not believe Anaconda is a dangerous place.
"No. Freak things happen. You know? I been here 31 years. Nothing like this has ever happened before until this past year," Gwerder said.
I interviewed Charles last August just several weeks after the Owl Bar murders, when he was planning a benefit to raise money for the victims' families. He described the event as part of Anaconda's healing process.
"I would say we're healing slowly. It was an unexpected, horrific event – a horrific tragedy. We're healing slowly," Charles said.
Now, that healing process must begin again. Gwerder said the community will do what it has always done.
"They'll pull together again. They did it before. That's one thing, this community is strong. Everybody gets together and does what they have to do," Gwerder said.
"We'll get through it again. Won't be easy but we'll get through and my sympathies go out to the family," Gwerder said.
RELATED: Second Anaconda bar shooting in 10 months has Montana bar owner rethinking securityThis story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
