American Man Linked to Australian Shooters Strikes Plea Bargain with Federal Attorneys
A US man linked with the perpetrators behind the fatal Wieambilla, Australia attack that took six lives – including two officers from Queensland – has accepted a less severe 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, known online as “Geronimo’s Bones”, is anticipated to plead guilty to a single offense of illegally owning firearms and ammunition in a deal to be approved by the judiciary this month.
Connections to Australian Shooters
Authorities established direct links between the defendant and the Train couple through digital communications.
This couple, along with Nathaniel Train, killed officers from Queensland Arnold and McCrow, and neighbor Alan Dare at a isolated location in Wieambilla in 2022.
They were killed in a gun battle with police, following a extended standoff at the rural site.
US prosecutors said Day corresponded via online platforms with the perpetrators around the time of the fatal attack.
He referred to Queensland police as “malignant, malformed and malevolent”, and declared they should be shown “absolutely no quarter”, telling the Trains he desired to be at the scene physically.
Legal filings detailed how the couple had posted an end-times recording on YouTube after the shootings, stating police “came to kill us and we killed them”.
“Failing to stand against these evil forces makes one a coward … We will meet you at home, Don. With love,” the Trains said.
Firearms Cache and Legal Proceedings
Legal records show the defendant stockpiled a collection of nine high-powered firearms and hundreds of rounds of ammunition at a rural property in Heber, Arizona, that was equipped 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 admitted in the agreement filed in court.
He said he frequently used both the gun room and the weapons, and also instructed others on how to use the firearms properly.
The plea deal will lead to charges dropped that relate to the alleged issuing threats to officials and FBI agents.
Based on court documents, Day had been prohibited from owning guns and arms because of his history of violent crimes.
The defendant, who has served two years in custody, faces a maximum penalty of up to 15 years imprisonment in jail or a penalty of US$250,000 (A$381,500), but the agreement specifies he will be sentenced under the minimum range of the legal sentencing standards.
