Police: Palatine man was plotting mass shooting at Hindu temple
A Palatine man is behind bars on allegations he was plotting a mass shooting at a Hindu house of worship near Aurora, police said Wednesday.
Alexandros Paporakis, 19, authored a manifesto entitled “Why I Fought: A.K.A.: (Aurora Shooter’s Manifesto),” which contained white supremacist and extremist ideologies, including references to violence against those of South Asian and Indian descent, according to Palatine police.
Investigators recovered a rifle, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, a body armor vest and a patch displaying white supremacist imagery from Paporakis’ home, police said.
Police believe Paporakis may have been intending to carry out the attack Sunday.
Paporakis was arrested Sunday evening while he was leaving his home on the 1300 block of North Baldwin Court in Palatine. He now faces charges of making a terrorist threat and unlawful possession of weapons, police said. If convicted, he faces up to 30 years in prison.
He appeared in court for a detention hearing Wednesday at the Cook County courthouse in Rolling Meadows and was ordered detained in the county jail pending his next scheduled court appearance Oct. 30.
“The seriousness of this alleged threat cannot be overstated,” Palatine Police Chief William Nord said in an announcement of the arrest Wednesday.
Palatine police said the Mount Prospect Police Department contacted them shortly after 3:30 p.m. Sunday about someone who reported receiving concerning electronic communications from Paporakis.
The FBI and Aurora Police Department also assisted in the investigation, authorities said. Aurora police have reached out to Hindu places of worship in their jurisdiction to make them aware of the threat, according to Palatine police.
Additional charges are possible, officials said.
“Protecting our communities and places of worship remains a priority, and we will continue working with our law enforcement partners as this investigation moves forward,” Nord said.
Anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact the Palatine Police Department at (847) 359-9000.
szalusky@dailyherald.com