US Individual Connected to Aussie Shooters Strikes Plea Bargain with Federal Attorneys
A US man linked with the culprits behind the deadly Wieambilla attack that claimed six lives – including two officers from Queensland – has agreed to a less severe plea deal.
Resident of Arizona Donald Day Jr will face court on October 21 after finalizing the plea deal with US prosecutors.
The convicted felon, referred to online as “Geronimo's Bones”, is anticipated to plead guilty to a single offense of illegally owning guns and bullets in a deal to be approved by the court this month.
Links to Australian Shooters
Authorities confirmed clear connections between the defendant and the Train couple through online posts.
The Trains, along with Gareth’s brother Nathaniel, killed Queensland police officers Arnold and McCrow, and neighbour Alan Dare at a remote property in Wieambilla in 2022.
The Trains were killed in a gun battle with law enforcement, following a extended standoff at the rural site.
US prosecutors stated the accused corresponded via social media with the perpetrators around the time of the deadly ambush.
He referred to Queensland police as “malignant, malformed and malevolent”, and said they should be shown “absolutely no quarter”, informing the Trains he wanted to be at Wieambilla in person.
Legal filings detailed how the couple had posted an apocalyptic video on YouTube after the shootings, saying 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.
Weapons Stockpile and Court Case
Legal records reveal Day stockpiled a collection of nine high-powered firearms and hundreds of rounds of ammunition at a rural property in Heber, Arizona, that was outfitted with a shooting range, weapons 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',” he admitted in the plea deal filed in court.
Day stated he frequently used both the gun room and the firearms, and also trained individuals on how to operate the firearms correctly.
The bargain will lead to charges dropped that pertain to the accused making of threats to public figures and FBI agents.
Based on court documents, Day had been prohibited from owning weapons and firearms because of his history of violent crimes.
Day, who has served two years in detention, could receive a maximum penalty of up to 15 years imprisonment in prison or a penalty of US$250,000 (A$381,500), but the plea deal specifies he will be judged under the low end of the legal sentencing standards.
