US Man Connected to Aussie Shooters Secures Plea Bargain with Prosecutors
An American citizen associated with the culprits behind the deadly Wieambilla, Australia shooting that took the lives of six individuals – among them two Queensland police officers – has accepted a watered-down plea agreement.
Arizona-based Donald Day Jr will appear in court on 21 October after finalizing the bargain with US prosecutors.
The convicted felon, known online as “Geronimo’s Bones”, is anticipated to plead guilty to a single charge of illegally owning firearms and ammunition in a arrangement to be approved by the judiciary in the current month.
Connections to Aussie Gunmen
Investigators confirmed direct links between Day and Gareth and Stacey Train through digital communications.
The Trains, along with Nathaniel Train, killed officers from Queensland Matthew Arnold and Rachel McCrow, and neighbor Alan Dare at a remote property in Wieambilla in 2022.
They were killed in a final shootout with law enforcement, following a protracted siege at the regional property.
US prosecutors said the accused corresponded via social media with the perpetrators during the period of the fatal attack.
Day referred to Queensland police as “evil, corrupt, and wicked”, and said they should be shown “absolutely no quarter”, telling them he desired to be at Wieambilla in person.
Legal filings outlined how Gareth and Stacey Train had posted an end-times recording on the video platform after the incident, stating 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’ll see you at home, Don. Love you,” the Trains said.
Firearms Cache and Legal Proceedings
Legal records show the defendant stockpiled a collection of multiple powerful guns and hundreds of rounds of ammo at a country estate in Heber, AZ, that was equipped 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',” Day said in the plea deal filed in the legal system.
He said he frequently used both the weapons storage and the firearms, and also instructed individuals on how to operate the guns properly.
The plea deal will lead to charges dropped that relate to the alleged making of threats to officials and FBI agents.
Based on court documents, Day had been banned from owning guns and arms because of his history of violent crimes.
Day, who has served 24 months in detention, faces a highest sentence of up to 15 years in prison or a penalty of US$250,000 (A$381,500), but the plea deal stipulates he will be judged under the low end of the sentencing guidelines.
