US Man Connected to Australian Shooters Secures Plea Bargain with Prosecutors
An American citizen linked with the culprits behind the fatal Wieambilla, Australia shooting that claimed six lives – including two officers from Queensland – has accepted a watered-down plea deal.
Arizona-based Donald Day Jr. will face court on 21 October after striking 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 single offense of illegally owning guns and bullets in a deal to be sanctioned by the judiciary in the current month.
Connections to Australian Shooters
Authorities confirmed clear connections between the defendant and Gareth and Stacey Train through online posts.
The Trains, along with Nathaniel Train, killed Queensland police officers Matthew Arnold and Rachel McCrow, and neighbour Alan Dare at a isolated location in Wieambilla in 2022.
They were killed in a final shootout with law enforcement, following a protracted siege at the rural site.
American officials stated the accused communicated via social media with the Trains during the period of the fatal attack.
He referred to Queensland police as “evil, corrupt, and wicked”, and said they should be shown “no mercy whatsoever”, telling the Trains he desired to be at Wieambilla physically.
Court documents detailed how Gareth and Stacey Train had uploaded an apocalyptic recording on YouTube after the incident, stating authorities “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.
Firearms Cache and Court Case
Legal records show Day accumulated a collection of multiple powerful guns and hundreds of rounds of ammo at a rural property in Heber, Arizona, that was outfitted with a shooting 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 said in the agreement filed in the legal system.
Day stated he regularly accessed both the gun room and the weapons, and also trained individuals on how to use the firearms properly.
The plea deal will lead to dismissed counts that pertain to the alleged issuing threats to officials and federal agents.
Based on court documents, the individual had been prohibited from owning 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 jail or a fine of $250,000 (A$381,500), but the agreement specifies he will be sentenced under the low end of the sentencing guidelines.