Illinois teen charged in mass shooting plot targeting Hindu place of worship
A 19-year-old Illinois teen has been charged with making a terrorist threat over an alleged mass shooting plot that may have targeted a Hindu place of worship near Chicago, according to police. Investigators recovered a rifle, ammunition and a document expressing white supremacist views.
Alexandros Paporakis, of Palatine, was arrested Sunday evening as he left his residence in the 1300 block of North Baldwin Court, according to the Palatine Police Department. The investigation began shortly after 3:30 p.m. Sunday, when Mount Prospect police contacted Palatine authorities about electronic communications reported by an individual.
Police said Paporakis had shared a document outlining an alleged mass shooting plan, along with photographs of a rifle, magazines, body armor and tactical equipment.
Officers from both departments located and arrested Paporakis that evening. Detectives subsequently searched his home and recovered a rifle, multiple loaded magazines, hundreds of additional rounds of ammunition and tactical equipment.
A vest containing body armor also carried a patch with imagery associated with white supremacist extremism. Authorities examined electronic communications and a document attributed to Paporakis titled “Why I Fought: A.K.A.: (Aurora Shooter’s Manifesto).”
According to police, the document expressed white supremacist and extremist ideologies, including references to violence against people of South Asian heritage, particularly those of Indian descent.
Detectives believe Paporakis may have intended to carry out an attack that Sunday, potentially at a Hindu place of worship in the Aurora area. Police said the specific intended location has not been confirmed, and Aurora authorities contacted Hindu places of worship to inform them of the potential threat.
The suspect was charged with one count of making a terrorist threat and one count of unlawful possession of a rifle with a barrel shorter than 16 inches. A judge ordered him detained during a hearing Wednesday at the Cook County courthouse in Rolling Meadows.
“Thanks to the swift action by the Palatine and Mount Prospect Police Departments, the subject was taken into custody without harm to our community,” FBI Chicago Special Agent in Charge Ryan Whalen said.
Paporakis is scheduled to return to court October 30. Palatine police said they are continuing to investigate with the FBI, including reviewing possible additional charges, and have identified no known ongoing threat to the public associated with the case.
The story was first reported by WBC24.
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