Randy Wayne Steele, a 20-year-old male from El Paso, Texas, tragically lost his life on February 3, 1980. He was one of five people killed in a mass shooting at the Starburst Lounge in northeast El Paso. The incident began when Barry Chvarak, a 21-year-old man, got into an argument at the bar over who was the best marksman. Chvarak left the bar, retrieved a semi-automatic.
22 caliber rifle from his truck, and returned to the lounge to start shooting.
Randy Steele displayed remarkable heroism during the attack. As Chvarak began firing, Steele pushed a waitress out of the way, saving her life but sustaining three gunshot wounds in the process. Despite his injuries, Steele's actions were credited with saving the waitress's life.
Barry Chvarak was arrested and later convicted of five counts of murder with a deadly weapon. He received five life sentences for his actions. The tragic event remains one of the earliest mass shootings in Texas history and had a lasting impact on the community and Steele's family.
Randy Steele's mother, Shirlene Masterson, has continued to honor his memory over the years. She often speaks about the profound loss she feels and the heroism her son displayed on that fateful night. A framed picture of Randy Steele rests atop a piano in her living room, and she frequently talks to him as if he were still alive.
The Starburst Lounge was eventually demolished, and the site is now a blighted lot. Despite the passage of time, the memory of Randy Steele and the tragic events of that night continue to resonate with those who knew him and the community at large.
