Families still seek answers, closure 24 years after Las Cruces bowling alley massacre

Nearly a quarter of a century ago on Feb. 9, four people were murdered at a bowling alley in Las Cruces in what is known as one of the bloodiest mass shootings in New Mexico.

The killers has never been caught and the case remains unsolved.

According to police, two men walked into the Las Cruces Bowling Alley and shot seven people – four died, three were seriously injured.

Twenty four years later, the victims’ families still don’t have any answers.

“We say closure, but there never will be some kind of closure, some sort of resolution to this tragedy,” said Anthony Teran, younger brother of Stephen Teran who was killed in the massacre.

Stephen worked at the bowling alley and that day he took his two daughters, ages 2 and 6, to work. The little girls also were killed.

“It’s hard, even like this morning you get up, and it’s like it happened yesterday, you think about things he said, things he did,” Anthony said.

Police say the men stole thousands of dollars from the business safe and shot the victims at close range–execution style.

They then set a desk on fire and fled the scene.

Anthony says life without his brother is a struggle.

“Even though time goes by, you still think about all the good times,” Anthony said.

A 2010 documentary, “A Nightmare in Las Cruces, brought renewed attention to the tragedy.

Anthony says it’s helped with the healing process.

“Not jus this tragedy, but all tragedies in our community, the only way we’re going to be able to cover each other’s back is to look out for each other and I think this is a way to help the community heal,” Anthony said.

The documentary is playing all this month at Montwood Movies 7, 2200 North Yarbrough.