US Man Connected to Aussie Shooters Secures Plea Bargain with Prosecutors
An American citizen associated with the perpetrators behind the deadly Wieambilla attack that claimed the lives of six individuals – among them two Queensland police officers – has agreed to a watered-down plea deal.
Arizona-based Donald Day Jr. will appear in court on October 21 after finalizing the plea deal with US prosecutors.
The individual with prior convictions, known online as “Geronimo's Bones”, is anticipated to plead guilty to a sole offense of illegally owning guns and bullets in a arrangement to be sanctioned by the judiciary this month.
Connections to Aussie Gunmen
Investigators established clear connections between Day and the Train couple through digital communications.
The Trains, along with Gareth’s brother Nathaniel, murdered Queensland police officers Matthew Arnold and Rachel McCrow, and neighbour Alan Dare at a remote property in Wieambilla, Queensland in 2022.
The Trains were killed in a final shootout with law enforcement, following a extended standoff at the rural site.
American officials stated the accused communicated via social media with the perpetrators around the time of the deadly ambush.
He described Queensland officers as “malignant, malformed and malevolent”, and declared they should be shown “no mercy whatsoever”, informing them he desired to be at the scene in person.
Court documents detailed how the couple had uploaded an apocalyptic recording on YouTube after the incident, stating police “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 expressed.
Weapons Stockpile and Legal Proceedings
Legal records show Day stockpiled a collection of multiple powerful guns and numerous bullets of ammunition at a country estate 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 filed in court.
Day said he frequently used both the gun room and the weapons, and also instructed individuals on how to use the firearms correctly.
The plea deal will lead to dismissed counts that pertain to the accused issuing threats to public figures and FBI agents.
Based on court documents, the individual had been banned from possessing weapons and firearms because of his history of violent crimes.
The defendant, who has completed 24 months in detention, faces a maximum penalty of up to 15 years in prison or a fine of US$250,000 (A$381,500), but the agreement specifies he will be sentenced under the low end of the legal sentencing standards.
