Lubbock Mystery: The Bombing Of The Alcoholics Anonymous Faith Club

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Thursday May 18, 1978 in Lubbock, Texas. Lubbock was getting ready for a big Friday night that would see legends come to Lubbock. Stevie Ray Vaughn would be playing at Stubbs BBQ. And at the old Lubbock Municipal Coliseum, AC/DC would be rocking the city with songs like "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap" and "T.N.T".

Also arriving in Lubbock on that Friday? The FBI.

The FBI wasn't coming to Lubbock for the music. On May 18th, 1978 a bomb exploded in Lubbock at The Faith Club, Alcoholics Anonymous which was located at 2814 Clovis Road, where the Faith Club currently stands.

If you haven't heard much about the bombing, I don't blame you. I just happened to accidently find out about it recently. As far as news coverage of the event goes, there is none. Just a file from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and that report pretty heavily redacted. Which means there is some information included in the document that FBI still doesn't want you to see.

According to the FBI report,

On May 18, 1978, at approximately 1:10 AM, an explosive device was detonated at the Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.), Faith Club, 2814 Clovis Road, Lubbock, Texas causing an estimated $2,500 in damages. No injuries were sustained. Immediate investigation by the Lubbock Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) failed to develop and logical suspects.

 

The FBI, Lubbock Police, and Texas Rangers all investigated any possibility of terrorism, of which they found no evidence. And in June, the Lubbock Police and Texas Rangers had decided it was the work of someone who wanted "publicity".

The FBI also investigated whether the bombing in Lubbock was tied to other events or groups, but the details of those possible links were blacked out.

Since the bombing, no suspects have ever been named and no one has reportedly admitted they carried out the act. It remains a Lubbock mystery.

You can read the entire (almost) FBI report here.