US Man Linked to Australian Shooters Secures Plea Bargain with Federal Attorneys
An American citizen associated with the perpetrators behind the deadly Wieambilla, Australia shooting that took six lives – including two Queensland police officers – has accepted a less severe plea agreement.
Resident of Arizona Donald Day Jr will appear in court on October 21 after finalizing the bargain with US prosecutors.
The individual with prior convictions, referred to online as “Geronimo's Bones”, is expected to plead guilty to a sole charge of illegally owning guns and bullets in a arrangement to be approved by the judiciary in the current month.
Connections to Australian Shooters
Authorities established direct links between the defendant and the Train couple through online posts.
The Trains, along with Gareth’s brother Nathaniel, murdered officers from Queensland Arnold and McCrow, and neighbour Alan Dare at a remote property in Wieambilla in 2022.
They were killed in a gun battle with law enforcement, following a protracted siege at the rural site.
US prosecutors said the accused corresponded via social media with the perpetrators around the time of the fatal attack.
Day described Queensland police as “evil, corrupt, and wicked”, and said they should be shown “no mercy whatsoever”, telling them he desired to be at Wieambilla in person.
Court documents detailed how Gareth and Stacey Train had posted an apocalyptic recording on the video platform after the incident, saying 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,” the Trains expressed.
Firearms Cache and Legal Proceedings
Court documents reveal Day accumulated a cache of multiple powerful guns and hundreds of rounds of ammunition at a rural property in Heber, Arizona, that was outfitted 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',” he said in the plea deal submitted in court.
Day said he regularly accessed both the gun room and the weapons, and also trained others on how to operate the firearms properly.
The plea deal will result in charges dropped that pertain to the alleged issuing threats to public figures and federal agents.
Based on court documents, the individual had been prohibited from owning guns and arms because of his violent criminal history.
Day, who has completed two years in custody, could receive a maximum penalty of up to 15 years imprisonment in prison or a fine of $250,000 (A$381,500), but the agreement stipulates he will be sentenced under the minimum range of the sentencing guidelines.
