Marianne Laweka, 53, was one of five people killed in a mass shooting at the Starburst Lounge in Northeast El Paso on February 3, 1980. The attack occurred about 1:30 a.m. when 21-year-old Barry Chvarak entered the bar and began firing a .22-caliber rifle at random; three other patrons were wounded. Witnesses said the first shots were mistaken for firecrackers amid chaotic scenes as patrons tried to flee.

Chvarak was arrested and charged with five counts of murder; he was held on $1 million bond, with $200,000 set for each murder count. The shooting was described at the time as the largest mass killing in the city’s history and left the El Paso community deeply shaken. Does anyone have memories of Marianne or information about that night that could add to the record?