EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) – Saturday, Feb. 10 will mark the 34th anniversary of the Las Cruces bowling massacre where two armed robbers shot seven victims execution-style, killing four of them. Among those killed were three children.
Anthony Teran lost his brother Steven Teran, 26, that day and his two nieces Paula Holguin, 6, and Valerie Teran, 2.
Thirty-four years going without answers, Teran said it is hard to hold on to hope, but is determined to keep the story alive so that his family may one day get justice.
“It’s hard to get that fire going again. You do what you can. The tough thing is it’s mentally taxing on me going through this every year and talking about the crime and how little they were (nieces),” Teran said.
Amy Hauser, 13, was the fourth victim in the massacre.
Police say massacre happened on Saturday morning, Feb. 10, 1990 at Las Cruces Bowl located on 1201 E. Amador Ave.
According to police, two gunmen forced seven victims into an office inside the bowling alley before opening fire on them, and subsequently set the office on fire in what they believe was likely an attempt to destroy evidence.
The suspects stole $5,000 in cash, according to police, and they have been unable to make any arrests since that day.
“We try to leave it in the hands of law enforcement, but the family never forgets about it. We always talk about him (Steven). We always bring his name into the story, and I think a lot of it is because they didn’t get justice,” Teran said.
Teran said that while he still mourns the loss of his brother, what troubles him the most is that he cannot comprehend why the suspects victimized the kids in that form.
“But the kids had no bearing. They could not even put a composite together of their mom,” he said.
Teran explained that time has not healed his or his family’s wounds, nor had they had any closure, but doesn’t believe anything will.
“It’s been 34 years, but honestly, it doesn’t go away and it probably still wouldn’t go away, even if they did get justice,” said Teran.
Teran said he would like to see more effort poured into the investigation and is hopeful that new law enforcement strategies and technology may eventually lead to the capture of the suspects.
Las Cruces-Dona Ana County Crime Stoppers continues to offer a $25,000 reward for information that helps identify the men responsible for this crime.
Tips can be provided anonymously by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
Tips can also be provided online at NMCrimeStoppers.org or through the Crime Stoppers app, “P3 TIPS.” The app is available through the App Store on most devices.
This case remains unsolved.
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