US Man Linked to Australian Shooters Secures Plea Deal with Federal Attorneys
An American citizen associated with the culprits behind the fatal Wieambilla, Australia shooting that claimed the lives of six individuals – including two officers from Queensland – has agreed to a less severe plea agreement.
Resident of Arizona Donald Day Jr will appear in court on October 21 after striking the plea deal with US prosecutors.
The convicted felon, known online as “Geronimo's Bones”, is expected to admit guilt to a single charge of illegally owning firearms and ammunition in a deal to be approved by the judiciary this month.
Connections to Aussie Gunmen
Investigators established direct links between the defendant and the Train couple through digital communications.
The Trains, along with Gareth’s brother Nathaniel, killed officers from Queensland Matthew Arnold and Rachel McCrow, and neighbour Alan Dare at a isolated location in Wieambilla, Queensland in 2022.
They were killed in a gun battle with law enforcement, following a extended standoff at the rural site.
American officials said Day communicated via social media with the Trains during the period of the deadly ambush.
Day described Queensland police as “malignant, malformed and malevolent”, and said they should be shown “no mercy whatsoever”, telling them he wanted to be at the scene physically.
Legal filings outlined how the couple had uploaded an apocalyptic video on YouTube after the incident, saying authorities “came to kill us and we killed them”.
“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 expressed.
Firearms Cache and Court Case
Court documents reveal Day stockpiled a cache of multiple powerful guns and hundreds of rounds of ammunition at a country estate in Heber, Arizona, that was equipped with a shooting 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 admitted in the plea deal filed in the legal system.
He said he frequently used both the weapons storage and the firearms, and also instructed others on how to use the guns correctly.
The bargain will result in dismissed counts that relate to the alleged making of threats to officials and federal agents.
According to court documents, Day had been prohibited from possessing guns and arms because of his history of violent crimes.
Day, who has served 24 months in detention, faces a maximum penalty of up to 15 years imprisonment in prison or a penalty of US$250,000 (A$381,500), but the agreement stipulates he will be sentenced under the minimum range of the sentencing guidelines.
