Jana L. Carpenter, 29, was one of five people killed in a mass shooting at the Starburst Lounge in Northeast El Paso on February 3, 1980. The attack happened about 1:30 a.m. when 21-year-old Barry Chvarak entered the bar and began firing a .22-caliber rifle at random. Witnesses said many patrons initially mistook the gunshots for firecrackers; three other people were wounded that night.

Those killed alongside Carpenter were Kathleen Lynn Austin, Marianne Laweka, Frederik Bergford, and Randy Wayne Steele. Chvarak was arrested, held on $1 million bond with $200,000 set for each murder count, and charged with five counts of murder. The event was described as one of the largest mass killings in El Paso’s history at the time and prompted local discussions about gun control, public safety, and mental health.

Does anyone have memories of the Starburst Lounge or information about Jana Carpenter that could help preserve her story?