American Man Linked to Australian Gunmen Strikes Plea Bargain with Federal Attorneys
A US man linked with the culprits behind the fatal Wieambilla shooting that claimed the lives of six individuals – including two Queensland police officers – has agreed to a less severe plea agreement.
Arizona-based Donald Day Jr. will appear in court on 21 October after finalizing the bargain with American authorities.
The individual with prior convictions, referred to online as “Geronimo’s Bones”, is anticipated to plead guilty to a single offense of illegally owning guns and bullets in a arrangement to be sanctioned by the court in the current month.
Links to Aussie Gunmen
Investigators confirmed direct links between the defendant and Gareth and Stacey Train through online posts.
The Trains, along with Nathaniel Train, killed Queensland police officers Arnold and McCrow, and neighbour Alan Dare at a isolated location in Wieambilla, Queensland in 2022.
They were fatally shot in a gun battle with police, following a protracted siege at the regional property.
American officials said Day corresponded via online platforms with the Trains during the period of the deadly ambush.
Day described Queensland officers as “evil, corrupt, and wicked”, and said they should be shown “absolutely no quarter”, telling them he desired to be at the scene physically.
Court documents detailed how the couple had posted an apocalyptic video on the video platform after the incident, 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.
Firearms Cache and Court Case
Court documents show Day accumulated a cache of nine high-powered firearms and hundreds of rounds of ammunition at a rural property in Heber, AZ, that was outfitted with a shooting 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 agreement submitted 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 guns properly.
The plea deal will lead to dismissed counts that pertain to the alleged making of threats to public figures and federal agents.
According to legal files, the individual had been banned from owning guns and arms because of his history of violent crimes.
The defendant, who has served 24 months in custody, faces a highest sentence of up to 15 years imprisonment in jail or a fine of US$250,000 (A$381,500), but the agreement specifies he will be sentenced under the minimum range of the legal sentencing standards.
