Donald Day Jr., the US man associated with the shocking Wieambilla massacre, has entered into an agreement with prosecutors. He is currently preparing for his sentencing later this month. That violent attack led to the shooting deaths of two police officers and a bystander. Nonetheless, it has garnered incredible media attention due in large part to the personal connections between all of the players involved.
Day, aka Geronimo’s Bones in rightwing internet circles, was previously convicted of violent crimes against multiple women. Due to this law, he is banned from gun ownership. He’s already served two years in jail. Now, he plans to plead guilty to possessing weapons and ammo illegally. Under the terms of the plea deal, he escapes with a comparatively lenient sentence. This means he will be sentenced at the low end of the sentencing guidelines.
He now faces a potential sentence of up to 15 years behind bars. Instead, he could face a US$250,000 fine, or A$381,500. Day’s first day in court is Oct. 21, when he will officially enter his plea.
Investigators have not yet established a direct connection between Donald Day Jr. and Gareth and Stacey Train. These two are suspected to be the shooters in the Wieambilla ambush. Early on the morning of the ambush, Day was sparring with the Trains on social media. This deepened fears as to what he would do to their activities. Staff reports show that he frequently visited a gun room and taught staff members how to use firearms.
In this last, and most shocking, revelation, Day admitted that he would have liked to be there for what happened at Wieambilla. Bishop pretty scathingly attacked the Queensland police, calling them “malignant, malformed, and malevolent.” He too was calling for them to be given “no quarter – none at all.”
His connection to the Trains was underscored by their own chilling remark regarding the ambush: “came to kill us and we killed them.” This comment serves as an example of the violent mentality that permeated this killing and emphasizes the weight of Day’s actions.
While Day is waiting for sentencing, law enforcement officials are still working to understand the full scope of his ties to the Wieambilla assault. The case has reignited conversations around gun violence and the radicalization that can occur in online spaces.