American Man Connected to Aussie Gunmen Strikes Plea Bargain with Prosecutors
A US man linked with the perpetrators behind the deadly Wieambilla, Australia attack that claimed the lives of six individuals – among them two officers from Queensland – has agreed to a watered-down plea agreement.
Arizona-based Donald Day Jr. will face court on October 21 after striking 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 offense of unlawfully possessing guns and bullets in a deal to be approved by the court this month.
Links to Australian Shooters
Investigators confirmed direct links between the defendant and the Train couple through online posts.
This couple, along with Gareth’s brother Nathaniel, killed officers from Queensland Arnold and McCrow, and neighbour Alan Dare at a isolated location in Wieambilla in 2022.
They were fatally shot in a gun battle with police, following a protracted siege at the regional property.
American officials said Day communicated via online platforms with the perpetrators during the period of the fatal attack.
Day described Queensland officers as “malignant, malformed and malevolent”, and declared they should be shown “absolutely no quarter”, telling them he wanted to be at the scene in person.
Legal filings outlined how the couple had uploaded an apocalyptic recording on YouTube after the shootings, saying police “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 said.
Firearms Cache and Legal Proceedings
Court documents show the defendant stockpiled a collection of multiple powerful guns and numerous bullets of ammo at a rural property in Heber, AZ, that was equipped 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',” Day admitted in the plea deal submitted in court.
He said he frequently used both the weapons storage and the firearms, and also trained individuals on how to use the guns properly.
The bargain will lead to dismissed counts that pertain to the alleged issuing threats to officials and federal agents.
According to legal files, Day had been prohibited from possessing weapons and firearms because of his history of violent crimes.
The defendant, who has completed two years in detention, could receive a maximum penalty of up to 15 years imprisonment in jail or a fine of $250,000 (A$381,500), but the plea deal stipulates he will be sentenced under the minimum range of the legal sentencing standards.
