The 1990 mass-shooting that claimed the lives of three children and two adults at a Las Cruces bowling alley is now marking its 36-year anniversary, and police are continuing to seek information that may help bring justice in one of the most heinous crimes ever committed in New Mexico.
The mass-shooting occurred on the morning of Saturday, Feb. 10, 1990, at Las Cruces Bowl, at the time a popular bowling alley at 1201 E. Amador Ave. Two gunmen entered the bowling alley and forced seven victims into an office before opening fire on the three adults and four children ages 13, 12, 6 and 2.
Four of the victims – three of them children – were killed that day while one adult victim initially survived her injuries but died years later from complications related to the shooting.
The case remains unsolved and Las Cruces police continue to ask for tips that may help solve the crime. Las Cruces-Dona Ana County Crime Stoppers is offering a $25,000 reward for information that helps identify the two men believed to be responsible for the crime.
About 8:30 a.m. that day, Melissia Repass, a 12-year-old suffering from multiple gunshot wounds, heroically called 911 to alert authorities to the crime. Las Cruces police and fire personnel were dispatched to the bowling alley where the victims were found shot execution-style.
First-arriving officers found three victims already dead: 26-year-old Steven Teran, his 6-year-old daughter Paula Holguin and 13-year-old Amy Hauser. Steven Teran’s 2-year-old daughter, Valerie Teran, was rushed to a local hospital where she died shortly after arrival.
Wounded during the shooting were Melissia Repass, her mother Stephanie Senac, 34, and 33-year-old Ida Holguin who was not related to Paula or the Terans. They were transported to area hospitals and survived. Senac died in 1999 from complications related to her injuries.
Investigators believe the suspects stole an undetermined amount of cash and checks from the business, believed to be less than $5,000, before setting fire to the office in what was likely an attempt to destroy evidence. Investigators believe the suspects are Hispanic with dark complexions. Investigators learned both suspects spoke fluent English.
Las Cruces-Dona Ana County Crime Stoppers continues to offer a $25,000 reward for information that helps identify the men responsible for the mass-shooting. Tips can be provided anonymously by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477. Tips can also be provided through the Crime Stoppers app, “P3 TIPS.” The app is available through the App Store on most devices.
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