A Keokuk man is facing charges and more arrests are expected in the investigation of pipe bombs placed in mailboxes in southern Lee County. Lee County Sheriff Buck Jones, says a tip help them make the arrest.
Jones says investigators got some information on someone who might be involved and when they went to talk with him, they saw some items that might be involved. Deputies left and got a search warrant, and returned to arrest Shelby McKoon.
Jones says the 20-year-old McKoon is charged with felony counts of possession of an explosive or incendiary device and possession of an offensive weapon, with more charges pending. Jones says McKoon started out small, but kept progressing and set off explosives in at least a dozen mailboxes.
He says McKoon started out with M-80’s then advanced to sparkler bombs, and eventually galvanized pipe. Jones says it was a very serious situation. “My concern was with, you know it’s the summer time and the kids are out of school, my concern was the kids would get in a mailbox, find one of these, light it and get hurt,” Sheriff Jones said. Jones isn’t sure what prompted the mailbox bombs.
Jones says, “I really can’t comment on that at this point, because we’re really not sure what he was thinking.” Jones says they do expect to make some more arrests in the case.