US Individual Connected to Aussie Gunmen Strikes Plea Deal with Prosecutors
An American citizen associated with the culprits behind the fatal Wieambilla, Australia shooting that took 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 finalizing the plea deal with American authorities.
The individual with prior convictions, referred to online as “Geronimo’s Bones”, is expected to plead guilty to a sole charge of unlawfully possessing firearms and ammunition in a arrangement to be approved by the court this month.
Links to Australian Shooters
Investigators established direct links between the defendant and the Train couple through online posts.
This couple, along with Nathaniel Train, killed Queensland police officers Arnold and McCrow, and neighbour Alan Dare at a isolated location in Wieambilla in 2022.
They were killed in a gun battle with law enforcement, following a protracted siege at the rural site.
American officials stated Day communicated via online platforms with the Trains during the period of the fatal attack.
He described Queensland police as “malignant, malformed and malevolent”, and said they should be shown “absolutely no quarter”, informing them he desired to be at Wieambilla physically.
Legal filings detailed how the couple had uploaded an apocalyptic video on YouTube after the incident, saying authorities “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 expressed.
Firearms Cache and Court Case
Court documents show Day stockpiled a collection of nine high-powered firearms and hundreds of rounds of ammo at a country estate in Heber, AZ, that was outfitted with a gun 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 plea deal submitted in court.
He said he frequently used both the gun room and the firearms, and also trained individuals on how to use the firearms correctly.
The bargain will result in charges dropped that relate to the alleged issuing threats to officials and federal agents.
Based on legal files, the individual had been prohibited from owning weapons and firearms because of his violent criminal history.
Day, who has served 24 months in custody, could receive a maximum penalty 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 sentencing guidelines.
