Authorities say a transgender 19-year-old who identified himself as a neo-Nazi allegedly planned a mass shooting at a Hindu temple near Chicago. The suspected attack was disrupted after a coworker alerted police, according to investigators.
Alexandros Paporakis of Palatine was arrested Sunday after allegedly preparing to open fire at the Hindu temple in Aurora, a Chicago suburb, Palatine police said at a news conference Thursday.
Paporakis is charged with one felony count of making a terrorist threat and one felony count of unlawful possession of a weapon.
A Cook County judge ordered Paporakis held without bond and approved a jailhouse healthcare order. The teenager receives hormone injections as part of a gender transition and is being treated for ADHD, depression and anxiety, NBC Chicago reported.
Alexandros Paporakis of Palatine was arrested Sunday after allegedly plotting to open fire at a Hindu temple in Aurora. (Palatine Police Department)
Prosecutors allege that Paporakis drove to the Aurora temple with a modified rifle, roughly 300 rounds of ammunition, body armor and additional tactical equipment. Police said he intended to carry out a shooting but went back home after the rifle malfunctioned.
Once home, Paporakis allegedly searched online for instructions on clearing the jammed firearm. Police said he then contacted a colleague and disclosed his plan to carry out a mass shooting.
The coworker, who worked with Paporakis at Taco Bell, reported receiving a suspicious message to Mount Prospect police. That tip helped investigators secure a search warrant and take Paporakis into custody before he could allegedly return to the temple.
Authorities commended the person who reported the warning and urged the public to contact law enforcement whenever they encounter potentially dangerous or suspicious behavior.
Authorities praised the tipster and urged anyone who encounters something suspicious to report it to law enforcement. (Google Maps)
“I want to praise and offer my personal, sincerest thanks to the individual who stepped forward in many successful disruptions by law enforcement and potential acts of violence or terrorism attacks. It is a single, courageous member of the public who comes forward to prevent attacks,” FBI Chicago Field Office acting Special Agent in Charge Lucas Rothaar said during Thursday’s news conference.
After receiving the report, police identified a red Acura registered to Paporakis. Surveillance footage showed the vehicle entering the Hindu temple’s parking lot at 12:25 p.m. and leaving several minutes later.
Investigators later saw Paporakis drive to a residence on Rand Road in Palatine, where he lived with his mother. During a search of the home, police said they found a rifle, a loaded magazine, hundreds of rounds of rifle ammunition and other tactical equipment in his possession.
Police also recovered an eight-page manifesto that they said outlined the alleged attack and described Paporakis’ white supremacist beliefs.
According to police, the document contained “words of hate, violence, superior race and mass shooting of Indian people.” Authorities said Paporakis expressed hatred toward Jewish people, African Americans, Indians and “non-white” people, referring to them as “subhumans” and outlining plans to kill as many as possible.
The suspect’s coworkers at Taco Bell told police they had received a suspicious message from him that day. (Photo by Duane Prokop/Getty Images for Taco Bell)
Police said Paporakis “expressed pleasure calling himself a sociopathic white supremacist Neo-Nazi filled with hatred, fantasizing about mass murder nearly every day.”
The manifesto also used the name “Aurora Shooter” to refer to Paporakis.
A judge ruled that Paporakis would remain in custody. His next court hearing is scheduled for Oct. 30.
The Hindu temple said it was aware of the recent security threat and has increased security measures.
“Please know that the safety of our devotees, employees and volunteers is our highest priority, and we have implemented additional security measures effective immediately, including increased armed security presence at the Temple and are taking additional steps to ensure an ongoing safe environment for everyone at the Temple,” the temple said in a message on its website.
