Editing Luke Helder (section)

== Bombings ==
In 2002, while attending the [[University of Wisconsin&ndash;Stout]], Helder planned to plant [[pipe bomb|pipe bombs]] in mailboxes across the United States to create a [[smiley]] face shape on the United States map.<ref name= "TPR">{{cite news| url= http://tpr.org/post/who-might-be-behind-austin-bombings|title=Who Might Be Behind The Austin Bombings?|date=March 20, 2018|work= TPR.org | publisher= Texas Public Radio|access-date=21 March 2018|archive-date=22 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180322020650/http://tpr.org/post/who-might-be-behind-austin-bombings|url-status=live}}</ref> The bombs, which were packed with [[BB gun|BB]]s and [[Nail (fastener)|nails]], were rigged to explode as the mailboxes were opened. Completed and rigged bombs were found in [[Nebraska]], [[Colorado]], [[Texas]], [[Illinois]] and [[Iowa]]. In Iowa, six people, including four mail carriers, were injured when the bombs detonated.<ref name="usps001">{{cite web | title = 2002 Annual Report of Investigations: Violent Crime | work = USPS.com |publisher= [[US Postal Service]]| year = 2002 | url = http://www.usps.com/postalinspectors/ar02/ar02_04.htm | access-date = 2007-10-16 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070926231308/http://www.usps.com/postalinspectors/ar02/ar02_04.htm <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 2007-09-26}}</ref> Ultimately, Helder planted 18 bombs and covered {{convert|3,200|mi}}.<ref name= "time001">{{cite magazine | last=Reaves | first=Jessica | title=Person of the Week: Lucas Helder | magazine= [[Time (magazine)|Time]]| date=May 9, 2002| url= http://www.time.com/time/pow/article/0,8599,236525,00.html | archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20121023000335/http://www.time.com/time/pow/article/0,8599,236525,00.html |archivedate= 2012-10-23 }}</ref> 

He was stopped by police in Nebraska, [[Oklahoma]], and Colorado for speeding and failure to wear a seat belt, but was not arrested.<ref>{{cite web | title=Pipe Bomb Suspect's Grungy Past | website=The Smoking Gun | date=April 8, 2011 | url=http://www.thesmokinggun.com/documents/crime/pipe-bomb-suspects-grungy-past | access-date=February 15, 2023}}</ref>
Eventually he was captured in rural [[Nevada]] before he managed to complete the full smile. At the time of his arrest, police were looking for an unknown suspect driving a black [[Honda Accord]]. Many newspapers reported that he was wearing a [[Kurt Cobain]] T-shirt.<ref name="lt001">{{cite web | title = Dad aids son's capture | work = Leader-Telegram | publisher = Eau Claire Press Company | year = 2002 | url = http://www.leadertelegram.com/SpecialReports/Helder/5-8mainstory.asp | access-date = 2007-10-16 | archive-date = 2007-09-27 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070927174305/http://www.leadertelegram.com/specialreports/Helder/5-8mainstory.asp | url-status = live }}</ref> When he was intercepted after a 40-mile [[car chase]], Helder held a gun to his head, but was convinced to lower it by [[Federal Bureau of Investigation]] negotiators. Law enforcement discovered more IEDs in his vehicle.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Wasson |first=Mark |date=2023-04-17 |title=21 years ago a Pine Island man sent pipe bombs around the country. He's still being held in Rochester |url=https://www.postbulletin.com/news/the-vault/23-years-ago-a-pine-island-man-sent-pipe-bombs-around-the-country-hes-still-being-held-in-rochester |access-date=2024-12-06 |website=Rochester Post Bulletin |language=en}}</ref> The bombings were widely covered by the US [[News media (United States)|news media]].<ref name=":0" />