American Man Connected to Aussie Shooters Strikes Plea Deal with Federal Attorneys
An American citizen associated with the culprits behind the fatal Wieambilla shooting that claimed six lives – among them two officers from Queensland – has accepted a less severe plea deal.
Arizona-based Donald Day Jr will face court on 21 October after finalizing the plea deal with US prosecutors.
The convicted felon, known online as “Geronimo's Bones”, is anticipated to plead guilty to a sole charge of illegally owning firearms and ammunition in a arrangement to be sanctioned by the court this month.
Connections to Aussie Gunmen
Investigators confirmed clear connections between the defendant and the Train couple through digital communications.
The Trains, along with Gareth’s brother Nathaniel, killed Queensland police officers Arnold and McCrow, and neighbour Alan Dare at a isolated location in Wieambilla, Queensland in 2022.
They were killed in a gun battle with police, following a protracted siege at the rural site.
American officials said the accused communicated via online platforms with the perpetrators around the time of the fatal attack.
Day referred to Queensland police as “malignant, malformed and malevolent”, and said they should be shown “no mercy whatsoever”, telling them he desired to be at Wieambilla physically.
Court documents outlined how Gareth and Stacey Train had uploaded an apocalyptic video on YouTube after the shootings, saying police “attempted to kill us, and we retaliated”.
“Failing to stand against these evil forces makes one a coward … we’ll see you at home, Don. Love you,” they expressed.
Weapons Stockpile and Legal Proceedings
Court documents reveal Day accumulated a cache of multiple powerful guns and hundreds of rounds of ammunition at a country estate in Heber, Arizona, that was equipped with a gun range, gun room and sniper’s nest.
“The firearms and ammunition were kept in the mobile home I shared with S.S., in a room we called the ‘gun room’,” Day said in the agreement filed in the legal system.
He said he regularly accessed both the weapons storage and the firearms, and also trained others on how to operate the firearms properly.
The bargain will lead to dismissed counts that pertain to the alleged issuing threats to officials and federal agents.
According to legal files, Day had been prohibited from possessing guns and arms because of his history of violent crimes.
The defendant, who has served two years in custody, could receive a maximum penalty of up to 15 years imprisonment in jail or a penalty of $250,000 (A$381,500), but the plea deal specifies he will be sentenced under the minimum range of the sentencing guidelines.
