American Man Linked to Australian Gunmen Secures Plea Bargain with Prosecutors

A US man linked with the culprits behind the deadly Wieambilla, Australia shooting that claimed six lives – including two officers from Queensland – 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 US prosecutors.

The individual with prior convictions, known online as “Geronimo’s Bones”, is anticipated to admit guilt to a single charge of illegally owning firearms and ammunition in a arrangement to be approved by the judiciary this month.

Connections to Australian Shooters

Authorities confirmed direct links between Day and Gareth and Stacey Train through online posts.

The Trains, along with Nathaniel Train, killed Queensland police officers Matthew Arnold and Rachel McCrow, and neighbor Alan Dare at a isolated location in Wieambilla in 2022.

The Trains were killed in a gun battle with law enforcement, following a protracted siege at the rural site.

American officials said Day corresponded via online platforms with the Trains during the period of the deadly ambush.

He described Queensland officers as “malignant, malformed and malevolent”, and declared they should be shown “absolutely no quarter”, informing them he desired to be at the scene physically.

Court documents detailed how the couple had uploaded an apocalyptic video on the video platform after the shootings, saying authorities “attempted to kill us, and we retaliated”.

“Failing to stand against these evil forces makes one a coward … We will meet you at home, Don. With love,” the Trains expressed.

Firearms Cache and Legal Proceedings

Court documents reveal the defendant stockpiled a cache of nine high-powered firearms and numerous bullets of ammo at a rural property in Heber, Arizona, that was outfitted with a shooting range, weapons room and sniper’s nest.

“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 plea deal filed in court.

Day said he regularly accessed both the gun room and the firearms, and also trained individuals on how to operate the firearms correctly.

The bargain will lead to dismissed counts that relate to the alleged making of threats to public figures and federal agents.

Based on legal files, Day had been banned from owning weapons and firearms because of his history of violent crimes.

The defendant, who has served two years in detention, faces a highest sentence of up to 15 years in jail or a penalty of US$250,000 (A$381,500), but the plea deal specifies he will be sentenced under the low end of the sentencing guidelines.