US Individual Connected to Australian Gunmen Strikes Plea Deal with Federal Attorneys
A US man associated with the culprits behind the fatal Wieambilla shooting that took six lives – among them two officers from Queensland – has agreed to a less severe plea deal.
Arizona-based Donald Day Jr will appear in court on October 21 after finalizing the bargain with US prosecutors.
The individual with prior convictions, known online as “Geronimo’s Bones”, is anticipated to admit guilt to a sole offense of illegally owning guns and bullets in a arrangement to be approved by the court in the current month.
Links to Aussie Gunmen
Investigators established direct links between the defendant and Gareth and Stacey Train through digital communications.
This couple, along with Nathaniel Train, murdered officers from Queensland Arnold and McCrow, and neighbour Alan Dare at a isolated location in Wieambilla, Queensland in 2022.
The Trains were fatally shot in a gun battle with law enforcement, following a protracted siege at the rural site.
US prosecutors stated Day communicated via social media with the Trains during the period of the deadly ambush.
Day referred to Queensland officers as “evil, corrupt, and wicked”, and declared they should be shown “no mercy whatsoever”, informing them he wanted to be at the scene in person.
Court documents detailed how Gareth and Stacey Train had posted an end-times video on the video platform after the incident, stating 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,” the Trains said.
Firearms Cache and Legal Proceedings
Legal records reveal Day accumulated a collection of multiple powerful guns and numerous bullets of ammo at a rural property in Heber, AZ, that was equipped with a shooting range, gun 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 agreement submitted in court.
He stated he regularly accessed both the weapons storage and the firearms, and also trained individuals on how to operate the firearms correctly.
The plea deal will lead to charges dropped that relate to the alleged making of threats to officials and federal agents.
Based on court documents, Day had been banned from possessing weapons and firearms because of his history of violent crimes.
The defendant, who has served two years in detention, could receive a highest sentence of up to 15 years in jail or a fine of $250,000 (A$381,500), but the plea deal specifies he will be sentenced under the low end of the sentencing guidelines.