American Man Linked to Aussie Shooters Strikes Plea Bargain with Federal Attorneys
A US man linked with the culprits behind the fatal Wieambilla, Australia attack that took the lives of six individuals – among them two Queensland police officers – has agreed to a less severe plea deal.
Arizona-based Donald Day Jr will face court on October 21 after striking the plea deal with US prosecutors.
The individual with prior convictions, referred to online as “Geronimo's Bones”, is anticipated to plead guilty to a sole offense of unlawfully possessing guns and bullets in a deal to be sanctioned by the judiciary this month.
Links to Australian Shooters
Investigators confirmed direct links between the defendant and the Train couple through digital communications.
This couple, 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 fatally shot in a final shootout with police, following a protracted siege at the rural site.
American officials said the accused communicated via social media with the Trains around the time of the fatal attack.
He described Queensland police as “evil, corrupt, and wicked”, and said they should be shown “absolutely no quarter”, informing them he wanted to be at the scene physically.
Legal filings outlined how Gareth and Stacey Train had posted an apocalyptic video on YouTube after the incident, 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,” the Trains said.
Weapons Stockpile and Legal Proceedings
Legal records reveal Day stockpiled a cache of nine high-powered firearms and numerous bullets of ammunition at a rural property in Heber, Arizona, that was outfitted with a gun range, gun 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 submitted in the legal system.
He said he regularly accessed both the gun room and the weapons, and also instructed individuals on how to use the firearms correctly.
The plea deal will result in charges dropped that relate to the accused issuing threats to officials and FBI agents.
According to legal files, the individual had been prohibited from owning weapons and firearms because of his history of violent crimes.
The defendant, who has served 24 months in detention, could receive a highest sentence of up to 15 years in jail or a penalty of $250,000 (A$381,500), but the plea deal specifies he will be judged under the low end of the legal sentencing standards.
