Police Foil Alleged Mass Shooting Plot at Illinois Hindu Temple

AURORA, Illinois — Authorities in a Chicago suburb say they have thwarted what could have been a devastating mass shooting at a Hindu place of worship, arresting a 19-year-old man who allegedly planned to target the largest Hindu temple in Aurora, Illinois.

Alexandros Paporakis, a Taco Bell cashier from Palatine, Illinois, faces felony charges of making a terrorist threat and unlawfully possessing weapons. He was arrested on October 11 and ordered held without bond at a hearing in Rolling Meadows on Wednesday, October 14. His next court appearance is scheduled for October 30.

According to prosecutors from the Cook County State's Attorney's Office, Paporakis's own co-workers alerted authorities after receiving disturbing digital communications from him — including a document outlining an alleged mass-shooting plan and photographs of tactical gear. The co-workers told police that Paporakis openly identified as a white supremacist at work and had said he could not wait to kill Indian people, the Associated Press reported.

On Saturday, October 10, prosecutors say Paporakis told a co-worker that he wanted to kill Indians and planned to attack what he described as the largest Hindu temple in Aurora, possibly the Sri Venkateswara Temple. He reportedly spoke of using a large quantity of ammunition.

The next day, investigators allege Paporakis drove toward the temple area with an AR-style rifle, roughly 300 rounds of ammunition, body armor and other tactical equipment. When he attempted to fire the weapon, it jammed, and he fled the scene.

Prosecutors allege Paporakis later called a co-worker to say his gun had jammed and that he had left "super fast" without being seen. After returning home, he reportedly searched online for ways to fix the rifle and sent a video showing the weapon failing to fire, along with a photograph of himself wearing a tactical vest — even discussing trying again.

Authorities also say Paporakis sent a co-worker an eight-page document titled "Why I fought: A.K.A. (Aurora Shooter's Manifesto)", which described Indian, Jewish and African American people in dehumanizing terms and outlined an alleged plan to kill as many of them as possible, according to a court document obtained by the AP.

A search of Paporakis's home recovered the AR-style rifle — which had no serial number — along with loaded magazines, ammunition, a gas canister labeled with a slur targeting South Asians, and several items depicting Nazi symbolism, police and prosecutors said.

Palatine Police Chief William Nord called the alleged threat gravely serious, adding that protecting places of worship remains a law enforcement priority. Aurora police were informed and contacted Hindu temples in the area. Authorities said no continuing threat to the public had been identified.

Paporakis has not yet entered a plea, and it was not immediately clear whether he had legal representation.

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