American Man Connected to Aussie Gunmen Secures Plea Deal with Prosecutors
An American citizen associated with the culprits behind the deadly Wieambilla, Australia attack that took six lives – among them two Queensland police officers – has agreed to a less severe plea agreement.
Resident of Arizona Donald Day Jr. will face court on 21 October after finalizing the bargain with American authorities.
The convicted felon, referred to online as “Geronimo’s Bones”, is anticipated to admit guilt to a sole charge of unlawfully possessing guns and bullets in a arrangement to be approved by the judiciary in the current month.
Connections to Australian Shooters
Investigators established clear connections between the defendant and Gareth and Stacey Train through digital communications.
This couple, along with Nathaniel Train, killed Queensland police officers Arnold and McCrow, and neighbour Alan Dare at a isolated location in Wieambilla, Queensland in 2022.
The Trains were killed in a gun battle with police, following a extended standoff at the rural site.
American officials stated Day communicated via online platforms with the perpetrators during the period of the deadly ambush.
He referred to Queensland police as “malignant, malformed and malevolent”, and said they should be shown “no mercy whatsoever”, telling them he wanted to be at the scene physically.
Court documents outlined how Gareth and Stacey Train had posted an apocalyptic recording on the video platform after the shootings, saying authorities “attempted to kill us, and we retaliated”.
“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.
Weapons Stockpile and Legal Proceedings
Court documents 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 outfitted with a gun range, weapons room and sniper hide.
“The firearms and ammunition were kept in the mobile home I shared with S.S., in a room we called the ‘gun room’,” Day admitted in the plea deal filed in the legal system.
Day stated he frequently used both the gun room and the firearms, and also trained individuals on how to use the firearms correctly.
The plea deal will result in dismissed counts that pertain to the alleged issuing threats to public figures and federal agents.
Based on legal files, the individual had been prohibited from owning guns and arms because of his violent criminal history.
The defendant, who has served 24 months in detention, 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 sentenced under the minimum range of the legal sentencing standards.
