Seven people are killed during a massacre at a New Mexico bowling alley On a seemingly ordinary Saturday morning, February 10, 1990, the life of 26-year-old Steven Teran, a male, was horrifically cut short in what would become known as the Las Cruces Bowling Alley Massacre. Steven, a mechanic at the alley, arrived at his workplace around 8:00 a.m. with his two young daughters, six-year-old Paula Holguin and two-year-old Valerie Teran. His plan was simple: to drop the girls off at the bowling alley's daycare before starting his shift.
Unbeknownst to him, two armed men had already entered the building through an unlocked door and were in the process of robbing the business.
As Steven and his daughters made their way to the manager's office, they walked directly into a terrifying scene. The two gunmen had already rounded up the alley's manager, Stephanie Senac, her 12-year-old daughter Melissa Repass, Melissa's 13-year-old friend Amy Houser, and the cook, Ida Holguin. Upon Steven's unexpected entrance, the situation escalated tragically. The robbers forced Steven and his children to the floor with the others. In a sudden act of brutal violence, the assailants shot all seven victims multiple times at close range with a. 22 caliber handgun before setting fire to the office to destroy evidence and fleeing with an estimated $5,000. Steven Teran, his daughter Paula, and Amy Houser died at the scene. Little Valerie was rushed to a hospital but succumbed to her injuries shortly after arrival.
In the immediate aftermath, a massive search was launched, with roadblocks surrounding Las Cruces and multiple law enforcement agencies scouring the area by land and air, but the two suspects vanished without a trace. Despite the harrowing ordeal, there were survivors. Melissa Repass, though shot five times, managed to call 911, an act that saved her own life, as well as the lives of her mother and Ida Holguin. Stephanie Senac, however, passed away in 1999 due to complications from the severe injuries she sustained. The suspects were described as two men, believed to be Hispanic, who spoke fluent English.
Over three decades have passed, but the brutal murders of Steven Teran and the other victims remain an unsolved case that continues to haunt the city of Las Cruces. No arrests have ever been made, and the identities of the two gunmen remain unknown. The case has received national attention over the years, featured on television shows like "Unsolved Mysteries" and "America's Most Wanted," in the hope of generating new leads. The Las Cruces Police Department considers it an active investigation, and a substantial reward is still offered for any information that could finally bring the perpetrators to justice and provide long-awaited answers for the victims' families.
