US Individual Connected to Australian Gunmen Strikes Plea Deal with Federal Attorneys
An American citizen linked with the perpetrators behind the fatal Wieambilla attack that took the lives of six individuals – including two officers from Queensland – has accepted a watered-down plea agreement.
Resident of Arizona Donald Day Jr will appear in court on October 21 after finalizing the plea deal with US prosecutors.
The convicted felon, known online as “Geronimo's Bones”, is expected to plead guilty to a sole offense of illegally owning firearms and ammunition in a arrangement to be approved by the court in the current month.
Connections to Australian Shooters
Investigators confirmed direct links between Day and Gareth and Stacey Train through online posts.
The Trains, along with Nathaniel Train, killed Queensland police officers Arnold and McCrow, and neighbor Alan Dare at a remote property in Wieambilla in 2022.
The Trains were fatally shot in a final shootout with police, following a protracted siege at the rural site.
US prosecutors stated Day communicated via online platforms with the perpetrators around the time of the fatal attack.
He described Queensland police as “evil, corrupt, and wicked”, and declared they should be shown “no mercy whatsoever”, telling them he desired to be at Wieambilla in person.
Court documents detailed how the couple had uploaded an apocalyptic video on YouTube after the shootings, stating authorities “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 said.
Firearms Cache and Legal Proceedings
Court documents show the defendant stockpiled a cache of nine high-powered firearms and numerous bullets of ammo at a rural property in Heber, Arizona, that was equipped with a shooting range, gun room and sniper hide.
“The firearms and ammunition were kept in the mobile home I shared with S.S., in a room we called the ‘gun room’,” he admitted in the agreement submitted in the legal system.
He stated he frequently used both the gun room and the weapons, and also instructed others on how to operate the firearms properly.
The plea deal will lead to charges dropped that pertain to the accused issuing threats to public figures and federal agents.
According to court documents, the individual had been banned from possessing weapons and firearms because of his violent criminal history.
Day, who has served 24 months in detention, faces a maximum penalty of up to 15 years in jail or a fine of US$250,000 (A$381,500), but the agreement stipulates he will be sentenced under the minimum range of the legal sentencing standards.
