On the morning of February 10, 1990, 26-year-old mechanic Steven Saenz Teran took his two young daughters to his workplace, the Las Cruces Bowl, and walked into an armed robbery already in progress. Two unidentified Hispanic men with dark complexions who spoke fluent English had forced several employees and patrons into the office at gunpoint, then shot seven people multiple times before setting the office on fire and fleeing with about $5,000.

Steven Teran, his daughter Paula Holguin (age six), and 13-year-old Amy Houser died at the scene. Two-year-old Valerie Teran was taken to hospital but later died. Melissa Repass, shot five times, managed to call 911 and survived; the manager Stephanie C. Senac and cook Ida Holguin also survived the initial attack, though Stephanie Senac later died in 1999 from complications of her injuries.

The Las Cruces Police Department continues to investigate and a reward has been offered; readers who knew any of the victims or who have information about the suspects are asked to come forward.