American Man Connected to Australian Shooters Secures Plea Deal with Prosecutors
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 accepted a watered-down plea agreement.
Resident of Arizona Donald Day Jr will face court on 21 October after striking the plea deal with American authorities.
The convicted felon, known online as “Geronimo's Bones”, is expected to admit guilt to a single charge of unlawfully possessing firearms and ammunition in a arrangement to be approved by the court this month.
Connections to Australian Shooters
Authorities established clear connections between the defendant and Gareth and Stacey Train through online posts.
This couple, along with Gareth’s brother Nathaniel, murdered officers from Queensland Arnold and McCrow, and neighbor Alan Dare at a isolated location in Wieambilla, Queensland in 2022.
They were fatally shot in a final shootout with police, following a protracted siege at the regional property.
American officials said Day corresponded via social media with the perpetrators during the period of the fatal attack.
He 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.
Court documents outlined how Gareth and Stacey Train had posted an apocalyptic video on YouTube after the incident, saying police “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
Court documents show Day accumulated a cache of multiple powerful guns and hundreds of rounds of ammo at a rural property in Heber, Arizona, that was equipped with a shooting range, gun 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',” Day admitted in the agreement submitted in the legal system.
Day said he frequently used both the weapons storage and the firearms, and also trained individuals on how to operate the firearms properly.
The plea deal will result in charges dropped that relate to the accused making of threats to officials and FBI agents.
According to legal files, the individual had been prohibited from owning guns and arms because of his history of violent crimes.
Day, who has completed two years in detention, could receive a highest sentence of up to 15 years in jail or a penalty of US$250,000 (A$381,500), but the plea deal stipulates he will be judged under the minimum range of the legal sentencing standards.
