American Individual Linked to Aussie Gunmen Strikes Plea Deal with Prosecutors
An American citizen associated with the perpetrators behind the deadly Wieambilla, Australia attack that took six lives – among them two officers from Queensland – has accepted a less severe plea deal.
Resident of Arizona Donald Day Jr will face court on October 21 after striking the bargain with American authorities.
The convicted felon, referred to online as “Geronimo's Bones”, is anticipated to plead guilty to a single charge of illegally owning firearms and ammunition in a deal to be approved by the court in the current month.
Connections to Australian Shooters
Authorities confirmed direct links between the defendant and Gareth and Stacey Train through digital communications.
The Trains, along with Nathaniel Train, killed Queensland police officers Arnold and McCrow, and neighbor Alan Dare at a isolated location in Wieambilla in 2022.
The Trains were killed in a final shootout with police, following a protracted siege at the rural site.
US prosecutors stated Day corresponded via social media with the perpetrators around the time of the deadly ambush.
Day referred to Queensland officers as “malignant, malformed and malevolent”, and said they should be shown “absolutely no quarter”, telling the Trains he desired to be at the scene in person.
Court documents outlined how the couple had posted an apocalyptic video on YouTube after the shootings, saying police “came to kill us and we killed them”.
“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 said.
Weapons Stockpile and Court Case
Court documents reveal the defendant accumulated a collection of nine high-powered firearms and numerous bullets of ammo at a country estate in Heber, Arizona, 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 said in the agreement submitted in the legal system.
He stated he regularly accessed both the gun room and the firearms, and also trained others on how to operate the guns properly.
The bargain will lead to charges dropped that pertain to the accused making of threats to officials and FBI agents.
Based on legal files, Day had been prohibited from possessing guns and arms because of his violent criminal history.
The defendant, who has served 24 months in custody, could receive a highest sentence of up to 15 years in jail or a fine of US$250,000 (A$381,500), but the agreement stipulates he will be judged under the minimum range of the legal sentencing standards.
