4 Shot to Death During Robbery at Bowling Alley

LAS CRUCES, N.M. — Robbers forced seven people into a bowling alley office Saturday and shot an employee, his two young daughters and another girl to death before setting a fire to try to cover up the crime, police said.

“What we have here is a very vicious crime, the assassination of kids,” said Las Cruces police Capt. Fred Rubio. “A whole family was assassinated.”

The three survivors, and residents living near the Las Cruces Bowl, gave police a description of two men believed to have committed the robbery and shootings.

State police and U.S. Border Patrol agents joined Las Cruces police in a search for the two men, who were reported driving an older model van or utility vehicle. Roadblocks were set up on streets and highways near the city.

The three survivors, all adults, were taken to Memorial General Hospital where they were reported in critical condition, Rubio said. He would not release their names.

The three dead girls were 3, 7 and 13 years old, Rubio said.

Officials said a fire was reported at the bowling alley at 8:33 a.m., a half-hour after it opened.

Police did not disclose the amount of money taken.