Story by Victoria Guadalupe Molinar

Director Charlie Minn talks to an audience of bowling massacre survivors, along with friends and family of lost loved ones, before the showing of his documentary, "A Nightmare in Las Cruces" at the Cineport 10 theater on South Telshor Boulevard. (Photo by Victoria G. Molinar)

If losing someone you unconditionally love to a heinous crime is unbearable, imagine watching a documentary showing a reenactment of the atrocity that changed your life 20 years later.

That’s what the victims and family members did on Tuesday, Feb. 9, during the premiere of “A Nightmare in Las Cruces.”

The documentary, which tells the story of the massacre that took place at what used to be called the Las Cruces Bowl on East Amador Avenue Feb. 10 of 1990, included commentary of the survivors and family members of the deceased victims.

Emotions surface

As the crowd of people waited in the Cineport 10 theater lobby, tears were already rolling down people’s faces. While the idea of having to relive a violent incident that one wishes to move on from seems daunting, the survivors evidently found importance in telling their story when they chose to be a part of the documentary.

From left: Patricia Rodriguez, Audrey Teran and Margaret Chip attend the Las Cruces opening. Audrey Teran lost her husband Stephen Teran and two daughters, Paula Holguin (age 6) and Valarie Teran (age 2) to the bowling massacre. Her sister, Patricia Rodriguez, was also interviewed for "A Nightmare in Las Cruces." (Photo by Victoria Molinar)

Not too long after the bowling massacre, director Charlie Minn saw an episode of “Unsolved Mysteries,” which featured the story about the three survivors and four murdered Las Crucens who were all shot several times at a close distance.  The fact that the murderers were never apprehended disturbed Minn and eventually drove him to create a film that he hoped would encourage anyone who might know the killers to report them to the Las Cruces Police Department.

“The film is not really just about the massacre, but it’s also about heroism, courage, and healing,” Minn added.

The courageous act that Minn particularly pointed out was the one in which Melissia Repass, who was 12 years old at the time of the massacre, made a call to 911 and gave a clear description of what happened despite a gunshot to the head.

This four-minute 911 call was played at the beginning of the film, sending a chill up everyone’s spine.

The audience attending “A Nightmare in Las Cruces” earlier this month was made up of the contributors to the film, the bowling massacre survivors and the friends and family of survived and lost loved ones.

Before the movie was shown, Minn stood in front of the audience to explain his decision to make a film about a Las Cruces disaster although he is from New York, where very few people know of the massacre. The fact that a violent act took place in a small town like Las Cruces did not just shock the locals, but Minn as well.

The Las Cruces tragedy was recreated on the set of "A Nightmare in Las Cruces." The film was shot in Sept. of 2009 at the bowling alley where the real massacre took place. (Photo by Larry Meraz)

“I made this movie to evoke emotions and encourage the person out there who knows who did this to report it…and I hope that those dirt bags get caught.”

An immediate applause from the audience followed.

Using interviews with family members and survivors, file footage from KRWG-TV, reenactments of what took place and the sounds of gunshots and a baby crying, the film had an even more powerful effect on the viewers.

Sniffs and sighs from the audience could be heard throughout the movie.

“I think it took a very courageous man with strength and compassion to put this movie together,” said Gloria Woods, whose daughter, Amy Houser, was shot and killed at age 13 during the massacre. “If this movie makes people talk and solves the crime, it’s definitely well worth it.”

The interviews with Gloria Woods in “A Nightmare in Las Cruces” were some of the most emotional clips in the film, along with the interviews with survivor Melissia Repass and Audrey Teran, who lost her husband and two daughters at the violent incident.

Local assistance

The film was shot in Las Cruces in Sept. of 2009 for about six days. Minn explained the process of making the movie at New Mexico State University in the Creative Media Institute’s directing class with Rod McCall. He contacted Larry and Russell Allen to ask if his film could be shown at their theaters, Cineport 10 on South Telshor Boulevard and Aviator 10 in Alamogordo, N.M.

“The first thing we did was call the PR of the Las Cruces Police Department because we were afraid of opening an old wound,” said Vice President of Operations Russell Allen at the opening of the movie. “The police department encouraged us to play it so that it could open up some eyes and help solve the case.”  Allen added that Minn’s passion for the massacre was evident, and he and his father Larry Allen were happy to oblige.

“I think that Feb. 10, the day of the massacre, should be a day to commemorate the victims,” said Minn to the directing class. “That’s why I chose to have it play on that day.”

“A Nightmare in Las Cruces” will also be playing at the Premiere Cinema 18 theater in El Paso, Texas starting Feb. 26.

For more information on the movie showings, visit www.bowlingmassacre.com and http://www.allentheatresinc.com.