US Man Connected to Aussie Shooters Strikes Plea Bargain with Federal Attorneys
A US man associated with the perpetrators behind the fatal Wieambilla shooting that took six lives – among them two Queensland police officers – has agreed to a watered-down plea agreement.
Resident of Arizona Donald Day Jr. will appear in court on October 21 after finalizing the bargain with American authorities.
The individual with prior convictions, referred to online as “Geronimo's Bones”, is anticipated to admit guilt to a single offense of unlawfully possessing firearms and ammunition in a arrangement to be sanctioned by the court in the current month.
Connections to Australian Shooters
Authorities established clear connections between the defendant and Gareth and Stacey Train through digital communications.
This couple, along with Nathaniel Train, murdered officers from Queensland Arnold and McCrow, and neighbor 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 regional property.
American officials said Day corresponded via online platforms with the perpetrators during the period of the fatal attack.
He described Queensland officers as “evil, corrupt, and wicked”, and said they should be shown “absolutely no quarter”, informing the Trains he wanted to be at Wieambilla physically.
Court documents detailed how the couple had uploaded an end-times video on the video platform after the shootings, saying authorities “came to kill us and we killed them”.
“Failing to stand against these evil forces makes one a coward … we’ll see you at home, Don. Love you,” the Trains expressed.
Firearms Cache and Legal Proceedings
Legal records reveal the defendant stockpiled a collection of nine high-powered firearms and hundreds of rounds of ammo at a country estate in Heber, Arizona, that was outfitted with a shooting range, gun room and sniper’s nest.
“The firearms and ammunition were kept in the mobile home I shared with S.S., in a room we called the ‘gun room’,” Day said in the agreement submitted in court.
Day stated he frequently used both the weapons storage and the firearms, and also instructed others on how to use the guns correctly.
The plea deal will result in charges dropped that relate to the accused issuing threats to public figures and federal agents.
According to court documents, the individual had been prohibited from owning weapons and firearms because of his history of violent crimes.
Day, who has served 24 months in custody, could receive a highest sentence of up to 15 years in jail or a penalty of US$250,000 (A$381,500), but the plea deal stipulates he will be sentenced under the low end of the sentencing guidelines.
