American Individual Linked 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 – including two officers from Queensland – has agreed to a watered-down plea agreement.
Arizona-based Donald Day Jr. will face court on 21 October after striking the plea deal with US prosecutors.
The convicted felon, known online as “Geronimo’s Bones”, is anticipated to plead guilty to a sole offense of unlawfully possessing guns and bullets in a arrangement to be sanctioned by the judiciary in the current month.
Connections to Aussie Gunmen
Investigators confirmed direct links between the defendant and Gareth and Stacey Train through online posts.
This couple, along with Nathaniel Train, killed officers from Queensland Arnold and McCrow, and neighbor Alan Dare at a isolated location in Wieambilla in 2022.
The Trains were fatally shot in a final shootout with police, following a extended standoff at the rural site.
US prosecutors said Day corresponded via social media with the Trains during the period of the fatal attack.
Day referred to Queensland officers as “evil, corrupt, and wicked”, and declared they should be shown “absolutely no quarter”, telling the Trains he wanted to be at the scene physically.
Legal filings outlined how the couple had posted an apocalyptic video on YouTube after the incident, saying police “attempted to kill us, and we retaliated”.
“If you don’t defend yourself against these devils and demons, you’re a coward … We will meet you at home, Don. With love,” the Trains said.
Firearms Cache and Legal Proceedings
Court documents show Day accumulated a collection of multiple powerful guns and numerous bullets of ammo at a rural property in Heber, AZ, that was outfitted with a shooting range, weapons room and sniper hide.
“The guns and ammo were stored in the trailer I occupied with S.S., within a space we named the 'gun room',” he said in the plea deal submitted in court.
Day said he regularly accessed both the weapons storage and the firearms, and also instructed individuals on how to use the guns correctly.
The plea deal will lead to dismissed counts that relate to the accused issuing threats to officials and FBI agents.
According to court documents, the individual had been banned from possessing guns and arms because of his violent criminal history.
The defendant, who has completed two years in custody, faces a highest sentence of up to 15 years in jail or a penalty of US$250,000 (A$381,500), but the agreement specifies he will be sentenced under the low end of the sentencing guidelines.
