US Individual Connected to Australian Shooters Secures Plea Bargain with Federal Attorneys
A US man linked with the culprits behind the fatal Wieambilla, Australia shooting that claimed six lives – among them two Queensland police officers – has agreed to a watered-down plea deal.
Arizona-based Donald Day Jr. will face court on 21 October after striking the bargain with American authorities.
The convicted felon, known online as “Geronimo’s Bones”, is expected to admit guilt to a sole charge of unlawfully possessing firearms and ammunition in a deal to be approved by the judiciary this month.
Links to Aussie Gunmen
Investigators established direct links between Day and Gareth and Stacey Train through online posts.
The Trains, along with Gareth’s brother Nathaniel, killed officers from Queensland Matthew Arnold and Rachel McCrow, and neighbour Alan Dare at a remote property in Wieambilla in 2022.
The Trains were killed in a gun battle with law enforcement, following a extended standoff at the rural site.
American officials said Day corresponded via social media with the Trains around the time of the fatal attack.
He described Queensland police as “evil, corrupt, and wicked”, and declared they should be shown “no mercy whatsoever”, informing the Trains he wanted to be at the scene physically.
Court documents detailed how the couple had posted an apocalyptic video on YouTube after the shootings, stating authorities “attempted to kill us, and we retaliated”.
“If you don’t defend yourself against these devils and demons, you’re a coward … we’ll see you at home, Don. Love you,” they expressed.
Firearms Cache and Court Case
Court documents show Day accumulated a cache of nine high-powered firearms and hundreds of rounds of ammunition at a rural property in Heber, Arizona, 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 admitted in the plea deal filed in the legal system.
He said he frequently used both the gun room and the firearms, and also trained others on how to operate the guns correctly.
The plea deal will result in charges dropped that relate to the alleged making of threats to public figures and FBI agents.
Based on legal files, Day had been banned from possessing guns and arms because of his history of violent crimes.
Day, who has completed two years in detention, could receive a highest sentence of up to 15 years imprisonment in prison or a penalty of $250,000 (A$381,500), but the plea deal specifies he will be sentenced under the low end of the sentencing guidelines.
