American Individual Connected to Australian Gunmen Secures Plea Bargain with Prosecutors
An American citizen linked with the perpetrators behind the fatal Wieambilla, Australia shooting that claimed the lives of six individuals – including two Queensland police officers – has accepted a watered-down plea deal.
Resident of Arizona Donald Day Jr will appear in court on 21 October after striking the plea deal with American authorities.
The individual with prior convictions, known online as “Geronimo's Bones”, is anticipated to admit guilt to a sole offense of unlawfully possessing firearms and ammunition in a arrangement to be sanctioned by the judiciary this month.
Links to Aussie Gunmen
Authorities confirmed direct links between the defendant and the Train couple through digital communications.
The Trains, along with Nathaniel Train, murdered Queensland police officers Arnold and McCrow, and neighbour Alan Dare at a isolated location in Wieambilla, Queensland in 2022.
They were fatally shot in a gun battle with law enforcement, following a extended standoff at the regional property.
US prosecutors said Day corresponded via social media with the perpetrators during the period of the deadly ambush.
He described Queensland police as “evil, corrupt, and wicked”, and said they should be shown “no mercy whatsoever”, telling the Trains he wanted to be at Wieambilla in person.
Court documents detailed how the couple had uploaded 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 will meet you at home, Don. With love,” they expressed.
Firearms Cache and Legal Proceedings
Legal records show the defendant accumulated a cache of nine high-powered firearms and hundreds of rounds of ammo at a country estate in Heber, AZ, that was outfitted with a shooting range, weapons 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’,” he said in the agreement submitted in court.
He stated he regularly accessed both the gun room and the weapons, and also instructed individuals on how to use the guns properly.
The bargain will result in dismissed counts that relate to the accused making of threats to officials and federal agents.
Based on court documents, Day had been prohibited from owning guns and arms because of his history of violent crimes.
The defendant, who has completed 24 months in custody, faces a highest sentence of up to 15 years imprisonment in jail or a fine of $250,000 (A$381,500), but the plea deal specifies he will be sentenced under the low end of the sentencing guidelines.
