American Individual Linked to Aussie Shooters Strikes Plea Bargain with Federal Attorneys
An American citizen linked with the perpetrators behind the deadly Wieambilla, Australia shooting that claimed the lives of six individuals – including two officers from Queensland – has accepted a less severe plea deal.
Arizona-based Donald Day Jr will appear in court on 21 October after finalizing the bargain with American authorities.
The individual with prior convictions, known online as “Geronimo’s Bones”, is anticipated to admit guilt to a single offense of illegally owning firearms and ammunition in a arrangement to be approved by the court in the current month.
Connections to Australian Shooters
Investigators confirmed clear connections between Day and Gareth and Stacey Train through digital communications.
This couple, along with Gareth’s brother Nathaniel, murdered officers from Queensland Matthew Arnold and Rachel McCrow, and neighbor Alan Dare at a remote property in Wieambilla, Queensland in 2022.
The Trains were killed in a gun battle with law enforcement, following a protracted siege at the regional property.
US prosecutors stated the accused corresponded via online platforms with the perpetrators around the time of the deadly ambush.
Day described Queensland officers as “malignant, malformed and malevolent”, and said they should be shown “absolutely no quarter”, informing the Trains he wanted to be at Wieambilla in person.
Legal filings detailed how Gareth and Stacey Train had uploaded an apocalyptic video on YouTube after the shootings, stating authorities “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 said.
Firearms Cache and Legal Proceedings
Court documents show Day stockpiled a cache of nine high-powered firearms and numerous bullets of ammo at a country estate in Heber, AZ, that was equipped with a shooting 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',” he admitted in the agreement submitted in court.
Day said he frequently used both the weapons storage and the firearms, and also trained others on how to operate the firearms correctly.
The plea deal will result in dismissed counts that pertain to the alleged issuing threats to officials and FBI agents.
Based on legal files, the individual had been banned from possessing weapons and firearms because of his violent criminal history.
Day, who has served 24 months in detention, faces a maximum penalty of up to 15 years in prison or a penalty of $250,000 (A$381,500), but the agreement stipulates he will be sentenced under the minimum range of the legal sentencing standards.
