Ill. Man Arrested for Plotting Mass Shooting at Hindu Temple
A 19-year-old Illinois man was arrested after allegedly planning a mass shooting at a Hindu temple. Authorities credit a tip from a coworker.
2 min read
A 19-year-old Illinois man was arrested after allegedly plotting a mass shooting at a Hindu temple in a suburb near Chicago. The suspect, Alexandros Paporakis, was charged with making a terrorist threat and unlawful possession of weapons following a tip from one of his coworkers.
Paporakis was arrested on Sunday after Palatine Police received information from Mount Prospect Police about a potential shooting plot. During a press conference on Thursday, authorities revealed that a good Samaritan, one of Paporakis’ coworkers, reported him to the police. According to the authorities, the suspect had texted his coworker on Sunday that he had gone to the Hindu temple to carry out an attack, but his gun purportedly jammed, and he left.
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Chicago acting Special Agent in Charge Lucas Rother encouraged the public to “follow in the footsteps” of the individual who notified the police about the suspect and “immediately report any threats or acts of violence.” Rother emphasized the FBI’s zero tolerance for violence or threats against the public.
Palatine Police Chief William Nord stated that surveillance video helped officers identify the offender’s vehicle entering the parking lot of a known Hindu temple in the Aurora community at approximately 12:25 p.m. on Sunday and exiting at approximately 12:38 p.m. He returned to his home in Palatine, where he was arrested the same day to prevent him from attempting an attack at another time.
During a search of his home, police found a rifle, multiple loaded magazines, hundreds of additional rounds of rifle ammunition, tactical equipment, a tactical vest, and a “patch associated with White supremacist extremism.” They also discovered an eight-page manifesto that included text and photos, indicating he had been planning an attack “for some time.”
Authorities attempted to question Paporakis’ mother, but she refused to cooperate with investigators. The offender was charged with one count of making a terrorist threat, a class X felony, and one count of unlawful possession of weapons. He appeared in court on Wednesday and was ordered by a judge to be detained.
His next court appearance is scheduled for Friday, October 30th. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are requesting that anyone with information contact the Palatine Police Department.
Authorities say a suspect accused of plotting a mass shooting in the Chicago area was looking for a large Hindu temple as a potential target. Investigators are continuing to examine the alleged plot and the circumstances surrounding the case. Watch OAN on OAN Live for the latest… pic.twitter.com/zzAXjn94k7
Source: OANN
