US Individual Connected to Aussie Shooters Secures Plea Deal with Federal Attorneys
An American citizen associated with the culprits behind the deadly Wieambilla, Australia shooting that claimed six lives – among them two officers from Queensland – has accepted a watered-down plea deal.
Arizona-based Donald Day Jr. will appear in court on October 21 after finalizing the plea deal with American authorities.
The convicted felon, referred to online as “Geronimo's Bones”, is anticipated to plead guilty to a single offense of illegally owning firearms and ammunition in a deal to be approved by the judiciary this month.
Links to Aussie Gunmen
Authorities confirmed clear connections between the defendant and the Train couple through digital communications.
The Trains, along with Nathaniel Train, killed Queensland police officers Matthew Arnold and Rachel McCrow, and neighbour Alan Dare at a isolated location in Wieambilla in 2022.
They were killed in a gun battle with law enforcement, following a protracted siege at the regional property.
US prosecutors said the accused corresponded via social media with the Trains around the time of the fatal attack.
He described Queensland police as “evil, corrupt, and wicked”, and said they should be shown “no mercy whatsoever”, telling them he wanted to be at Wieambilla physically.
Court documents outlined how the couple had uploaded an end-times recording on the video platform after the shootings, saying police “attempted to kill us, and we retaliated”.
“Failing to stand against these evil forces makes one a coward … We will meet you at home, Don. With love,” they said.
Firearms Cache and Court Case
Court documents reveal Day stockpiled a cache of multiple powerful guns and numerous bullets of ammunition at a country estate in Heber, AZ, that was equipped with a gun range, weapons room and sniper’s nest.
“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 agreement submitted in court.
Day stated he frequently used both the gun room and the firearms, and also instructed individuals on how to operate the guns properly.
The bargain will lead to dismissed counts that pertain to the alleged issuing threats to officials and FBI agents.
According to court documents, Day had been prohibited from owning weapons and firearms because of his history of violent crimes.
The defendant, who has completed 24 months in detention, faces a highest sentence of up to 15 years in jail or a penalty of US$250,000 (A$381,500), but the agreement stipulates he will be judged under the low end of the sentencing guidelines.
