Community members from Las Cruces and surrounding areas gathered Monday at Barnes & Noble with questions and condolences for the victims of the Feb. 10, 1990, Las Cruces bowling alley massacre.
The panel consisted of Ida Holguin, a massacre survivor, and Gloria Woods and Audrey Tehran, both of whom lost family members in the massacre. Mike Meyers, the lead case detective and Charlie Minn, the director of “A Nightmare in Las Cruces,” a documentary on the bowling alley massacre, were also present.
“A Nightmare in Las Cruces” will be released in local theaters Wednesday, coinciding with the 20-year anniversary of the day two men walked into a Las Cruces bowling alley and killed four people, including Tehran and Woods’ young daughters.
“They were my life, I’ve represented them 20 years, and I’m going to keep representing them,” Tehran said.
Many community members asked what methods the Las Cruces Police Department used in its investigation, ranging from DNA to psychic intervention.
“Every measure known to the police department at the time was exhausted,” Meyers said.
Meyers also said several psychics were used.
Several community members said the event personally affected them. Norma Maese, a Las Cruces woman, was 14 at the time of the massacre. Maese said she heard the sirens from her grandmother’s house and walked over to see what was happening. Maese said it seemed suspicious that the murders are still unsolved, considering Las Cruces had been an even smaller community at the time.
“I just really hope this movie makes somebody speak out,” Maese said.
During the question and answer period, one audience member asked to speak to Meyers about someone he thought may know something. Associate Producer Amer Jandali said a local past acquaintance had come to him with information and agreed to speak with police.
“I hope the film in the end will lead to justice for the victim’s families,” Minn said.
Minn described the film as being graphic, but Woods said she still plans to see it.
“I may close my eyes, but that doesn’t mean I don’t believe in what’s being said,” Woods said.
Jeff Burg, a freelance movie reviewer, saw a rough cut of the film and said it was not sensational, but honoring.
Avra Elliott is a staff writer and can be contacted at trunews@nmsu.edu
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