Shivangi Sinha
In June 2017, Terry Sterling, Victoria Brong, and Brian Hayes were going about their day at work as usual. All three had been employed at the Weis Markets supermarket in Eaton Township, Pennsylvania, and had spent years working there. A little after noon that day, one of their fellow employees ran outside and called 911 to report a shooting. By the time police arrived at the scene, Terry, Victoria, and Brian had already lost their lives, and the answers to what had happened appeared to be right in front of investigators. ID’s ‘Deadly Influence: The Social Media Murders Enter the Ghost World’ explores the details of the case, the identification of the perpetrator, and the motives behind the deadly act.
Terry Sterling, Victoria Brong and Brian Hayes Were Shot to Death at Their Workplace
Terry Lee Sterling was born on April 3, 1954, to Ralph and Cora Sterling. He built a rich and loving life for himself in Pennsylvania, where he was born, raised, and where much of his family remained settled. Terry married Margene Ann Sterling, and together they welcomed their son, Terry Lee Sterling Jr., who became the center of their world. Over the years, the family grew with the arrival of two granddaughters, Carmen and Kylee, and Terry was content with the life they had built. After Margene’s passing, he faced a difficult period of grief, but he relied on the support of his close friends and family to help him through it. He worked as a shop assistant at the Weis Markets supermarket in Eaton Township, Pennsylvania, and devoted much of his time and energy to his job. Victoria Todd Brong was welcomed into the world on August 10, 1991, by her parents, Kevin T. Brong and Ruth Escott Kohut.
She was still young when her parents separated, and she spent most of her childhood living with her mother. Victoria attended Tunkhannock High School and graduated in 2010. When she became a mother to her son, Kevin D. Brong, she understood that her responsibilities in life would grow, but she was grateful to have the support of her sisters, Ashley, Marcia, and Melissa during that chapter of her life. She was especially pleased when she secured a position as an assistant tag manager at the Weis Markets supermarket, where Terry also worked. Brian Hayes was born on December 17, 1969, in East Orange, New Jersey. Raised by his parents, Marie O’Rourke and Raymond Hayes, he grew up in a safe and loving home and later sought to create the same kind of environment for his own family.
In April 2009, he married Tina Marie Rinaldi, and together they built a life in Springville, Pennsylvania. Brian welcomed his daughter, Victoria, and, alongside his stepdaughter, Rachel Rinaldi, enjoyed family life in the small community. He worked as the night manager at the same Weis Markets supermarket and worked very hard to provide for his family. Shortly after noon on June 7, 2017, while Terry Sterling, Victoria Brong, and Brian Hayes were working at the store, their coworker, Kristan Newell, called 911 and reported a shooting inside the supermarket. By the time first responders arrived at the scene, all three victims had already passed away. Terry had suffered two gunshot wounds, while Victoria and Brian had been shot four and five times, respectively, and were pronounced dead. Investigators quickly began piecing together what had transpired inside the Weis Markets supermarket that day and soon uncovered the events that had led to it.
The Killer Carefully Blocked the Exits Before the Shooting
Alongside the remains of Terry Sterling, Victoria Brong, and Brian Hayes, police also discovered the body of another coworker, Randy Stair. He had been employed at the supermarket for seven years and was working that night as well. Investigators quickly obtained the surveillance footage and saw that Randy had arrived slightly late for his shift, around 11 pm. Over the next hour and a half, he carried out his regular duties while also blocking emergency exits with pallets and other items he could find. Randy then went out to his car, which he deliberately parked in front of an emergency exit. From there, he retrieved a duffel bag containing two pistol-grip pump-action shotguns and re-entered the store. He fired a total of 59 shots before taking his own life after Kristan Newell managed to escape and alert authorities.
Randy lived in Dallas, Pennsylvania, with his parents and brother. He had always been an introverted person, and in 2008, he started a YouTube channel where he began sharing content. In 2014, he told his followers that he was struggling with depression and launched an animated series titled ‘Ember’s Ghost Squad’ on his channel. Over the years, he operated several websites, pages, and online accounts and was active on internet forums dedicated to the Columbine High School massacre. As time passed, Randy became increasingly isolated and continued to struggle with his mental health. In a note written to his parents, he also mentioned experiencing gender dysphoria and expressed a desire to undergo gender-affirming surgery.
The Killer Sent a Message to His Mother Shortly Before He Fired His Guns
In the months leading up to the shooting, Randy Stair dropped numerous hints about planning “something massive.” He had begun expressing a deep hatred for humanity and the world around him, and frequently spoke about how he did not believe he would live beyond his twenties. In May 2017, he uploaded a photograph of the guns that were later used in the shooting and made comments that appeared to foreshadow his intentions. On the evening of June 7, 2017, he uploaded another video titled ‘The Westborough High Massacre/Goodbye,’ in which he voiced his frustrations and spoke admiringly about other mass shooters.
Randy also shared a series of links to audio and video recordings, along with a journal he called Suicide Tapes, where he referenced several other mass killings. Following the incident, police recovered numerous items from his home, including shotgun cartridges, shooting goggles, ear protection, a gunstock, and an owner’s manual. Investigators also seized a significant amount of digital material. Additionally, police obtained an account from Laura Faverty, an actress who had collaborated with him on his channel. She revealed that Randy had emailed her roughly an hour before the shooting to explain the motives behind his videos and inform her that he intended to take his own life. Around 12:30 am on June 7, 2017, he also sent a text to his mother, but she was asleep and did not see it on time.
Randy Stair Was Intoxicated When He Committed the Crime
The Wyoming County District Attorney publicly identified Randy Stair as the gunman in press statements following the shooting. Since he had taken his own life inside the supermarket, no criminal charges were ever filed against him. However, based on the evidence recovered from the scene and the material seized from his home, investigators conclusively identified him as the perpetrator. His toxicology report showed that he had consumed large amounts of the antihistamine diphenhydramine before the shooting, a substance that can cause hallucinations at high doses. His family later released a statement that read, “Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families. We are so sorry for all the pain and loss of life this has caused everyone involved.” Randy’s family chose to have his remains cremated and has largely stayed out of the public eye since his death.
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