It was a normal Saturday morning. February 10, 1990. In the desert city of Las Cruces, New Mexico, the air was crisp, and the Las Cruces Bowl was just starting its day. It should’ve been a day of league games and kids’ birthday parties. Instead, it became the site of one of the most brutal unsolved crimes in American history. When people talk about the mass shooting Las Cruces witnessed that day, they aren't just talking about a tragedy; they are talking about a mystery that has frustrated investigators for over three decades.
Seven people were lined up. Execution style.
The gunmen didn't just want the money from the safe. They wanted no witnesses. They shot everyone, including children as young as two and six years old. It’s a heavy subject. Honestly, it’s the kind of story that makes you look at your surroundings a little differently even today.
What Really Happened During the Las Cruces Mass Shooting?
Let's get into the weeds of that morning. Stephanie Senac, the 34-year-old manager, was in her office with her 12-year-old daughter, Melissa Repass, and Melissa's friend, 13-year-old Amy Houser. They were just getting things ready. Suddenly, two men walked in. They didn't look like monsters; they looked like guys who belonged there. One was in his 30s, the other younger, maybe in his 20s.
They had guns.
The gunmen forced their way into the office. But it didn't stop there. Steve Teran, the 26-year-old cook, walked in with his two young daughters, Valerie and Paula. He couldn't find a babysitter, so he brought them to work. It was a split-second decision that ended in the worst way possible. Then there was Barney Robertson, the 28-year-old mechanic. All seven people were herded into that small office.
The robbers took about $4,000 to $5,000. That’s it. For a few thousand dollars, they decided to end seven lives.
They opened fire.
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The sounds must have been deafening in that cramped space. After the shooting, the killers set fire to the office to destroy evidence and fled. But here is the part that still gives people chills: Melissa Repass, only 12 years old and suffering from multiple gunshot wounds, managed to crawl to a phone. She called 911. Her voice on that recording is a haunting mix of terror and incredible bravery.
The Victims Who Didn't Make It
Four people died at the scene or shortly after. Amy Houser, Steven Teran, and his two little girls, six-year-old Paula and two-year-old Valerie. It’s hard to even wrap your head around that. Why the kids? Investigators have chewed on that question for years, and there's never been a satisfying answer. Some think the killers were high. Others think they were just pure evil.
Barney Robertson, Stephanie Senac, and Melissa Repass survived the initial onslaught, though Stephanie passed away years later due to complications from her injuries. Melissa grew up and moved away, carrying the weight of being the primary witness to a massacre.
The Investigation: Dead Ends and Dozens of Leads
You’d think with multiple survivors and a daylight escape, the police would’ve caught them within a week. Las Cruces isn't exactly New York City. People talk. Yet, the mass shooting Las Cruces became known for remains cold.
The police had composite sketches. They had descriptions.
- Suspect 1: Hispanic male, late 30s, around 5'10", medium build.
- Suspect 2: Hispanic male, late teens or early 20s, around 5'6", slight build.
Thousands of tips flooded in. The FBI got involved. They looked at disgruntled employees, local gangs, and even the possibility of a professional hit gone wrong. But the trail always went cold. There was no DNA tech like we have today back in 1990. The fire the suspects started damaged a lot of the physical evidence, and the bowling alley was a high-traffic public place, making fingerprinting a nightmare.
Over the years, the case has been featured on America’s Most Wanted and Unsolved Mysteries. Every time it airs, a fresh batch of tips comes in. Police have traveled to Mexico, followed leads into different states, and interviewed hundreds of people. Still, nothing has stuck.
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Why hasn't DNA solved this yet?
It’s a fair question. We see it all the time now—cold cases from the 70s and 80s being solved by "genetic genealogy." Basically, they take old DNA and run it through family tree databases. The problem in the Las Cruces case is the quality of the samples. Fire and water (from the sprinklers) are the enemies of biological evidence. While the police haven't given up on the tech side, they haven't had that "aha!" moment yet.
The Impact on the Las Cruces Community
If you go to Las Cruces today, people still remember. The bowling alley eventually reopened under different names, but it always carried that shadow. It was finally demolished years later. Now, there is a memorial. It’s a quiet spot meant for reflection.
The community changed that day. You talk to the old-timers, and they say the city lost its innocence. People started locking their doors. Business owners became more suspicious. It wasn't just a crime; it was a violation of a safe space. Bowling alleys are supposed to be where you take your family on a Saturday morning, not where you say goodbye to them.
There’s also a persistent feeling of frustration. There is a sense that someone, somewhere, knows exactly who did this. Las Cruces is a tight-knit place. The idea that two men could commit such a heinous act and just vanish into the desert air is hard for locals to swallow.
Misconceptions About the Case
You’ll hear rumors. Some say it was a drug debt. Others swear it was a case of mistaken identity and the killers were actually looking for someone else. Honestly, there isn't much evidence to support the "drug debt" theory regarding the victims. By all accounts, the people in that room were just in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Another misconception is that the police "know who did it" but just can't prove it. While investigators have had "persons of interest" over the decades, they've never had enough to bring a solid case to a grand jury. In a case this high-profile, you can't afford to swing and miss.
Lessons for Business Safety and Public Spaces
While we can't change the past, the mass shooting Las Cruces dealt with led to massive shifts in how small businesses handle security. In 1990, many places didn't have cameras. Safes were often easy to access.
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- Surveillance is non-negotiable. Back then, it was a luxury. Now, even a small coffee shop has high-definition cameras that upload to the cloud instantly.
- Silent alarms and panic buttons. The fact that Melissa had to wait until the shooters left to call for help highlights the need for silent triggers that notify dispatch immediately.
- Cash-handling protocols. Most modern businesses keep very little cash on-site, and what they do have is often in time-locked safes that employees can't even open if they wanted to.
Where the Case Stands in 2026
The Dona Ana County Sheriff's Office and the Las Cruces Police Department still have a dedicated line for this case. There is still a reward—usually hovering around $30,000—for information leading to an arrest.
They are looking for that one person who was told a secret thirty years ago. Maybe a former girlfriend, a brother, or a cellmate. People’s loyalties change over time. Someone who was scared to talk in 1990 might be ready to talk now.
Actionable Steps for the Public
If you have an interest in true crime or want to help, there are actual things you can do rather than just reading about it.
- Review the sketches: Even now, looking at the composite drawings can spark a memory. People age, but basic bone structure stays the same.
- Support the memorial: Visit the site in Las Cruces to keep the memory of the victims alive.
- Share the story: Cold cases stay cold when people stop talking about them. Use social media to keep the "Las Cruces Bowl" case in the public eye.
- Contact the authorities: If you have any information, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant, contact the Las Cruces Police Department at (575) 526-0795.
The goal isn't just to remember the tragedy. It's to find the closure that the survivors and the families of the victims have been denied for over thirty-five years. Justice is slow, but in the world of cold cases, it’s never impossible.
Summary of Key Facts for Quick Reference
The tragedy occurred at 1010 S. Valley Drive. The survivors, Melissa Repass and Stephanie Senac, provided the bulk of the descriptions used for the sketches. Steven Teran’s daughters, Valerie and Paula, remain the youngest victims of mass violence in the city's history. Investigators believe the suspects may have fled toward El Paso or across the border into Juarez, Mexico, shortly after the shooting.
To help solve this, focus on the descriptions: the older suspect had a "weathered" look and a possible mustache, while the younger suspect was described as having a "pock-marked" or "acne-scarred" complexion. These physical traits are often what break cold cases when someone finally connects the dots decades later. Keep the names of the victims in mind: Stevie, Valerie, Paula, and Amy. They deserve a resolution.