US Individual Linked to Australian Shooters Strikes Plea Deal with Prosecutors
A US man associated with the culprits behind the fatal Wieambilla shooting that claimed six lives – among them two officers from Queensland – has accepted a less severe plea deal.
Resident of Arizona Donald Day Jr will face court on October 21 after finalizing the plea deal with American authorities.
The convicted felon, known online as “Geronimo's Bones”, is anticipated to admit guilt to a sole charge of illegally owning guns and bullets in a deal to be sanctioned by the judiciary this month.
Links to Aussie Gunmen
Authorities confirmed clear connections between the defendant and Gareth and Stacey Train through online posts.
This couple, along with Gareth’s brother Nathaniel, murdered Queensland police officers Matthew Arnold and Rachel McCrow, and neighbour Alan Dare at a isolated location in Wieambilla, Queensland in 2022.
They were fatally shot in a gun battle with police, following a extended standoff at the regional property.
American officials said Day communicated via social media with the Trains during the period of the fatal attack.
He described Queensland officers as “malignant, malformed and malevolent”, and said they should be shown “no mercy whatsoever”, informing them he desired to be at Wieambilla physically.
Legal filings detailed how the couple had uploaded an apocalyptic recording on YouTube after the incident, stating 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,” they said.
Weapons Stockpile and Court Case
Legal records show the defendant stockpiled a cache of multiple powerful guns and hundreds of rounds of ammo at a rural property in Heber, AZ, that was equipped 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 admitted in the plea deal filed in the legal system.
Day said he frequently used both the gun room and the weapons, and also instructed individuals on how to operate the guns correctly.
The bargain will result in charges dropped that pertain to the accused issuing threats to public figures and FBI agents.
According to legal files, Day had been banned from possessing weapons and firearms because of his history of violent crimes.
The defendant, who has completed two years in custody, could receive a highest sentence of up to 15 years in prison or a fine of US$250,000 (A$381,500), but the agreement specifies he will be sentenced under the low end of the legal sentencing standards.
