A 19-year-old Palatine man is in custody after authorities say he plotted a mass shooting at a Hindu place of worship in suburban Chicago, an alleged scheme that included a rifle, tactical gear and a white supremacist manifesto.
Alexandros Paporakis was arrested Sunday after police received a tip about threatening messages he had sent, according to the Palatine Police Department. The tip came in just after 3:30 p.m. from Mount Prospect police, who had been alerted by a person who received concerning communications from Paporakis.
Investigators said Paporakis shared a document laying out a plan for a mass shooting, along with images of a rifle, magazines, body armor and other tactical equipment. Officers tracked him down as he was leaving his home in the 1300 block of North Baldwin Court and took him into custody without incident.
A search of his residence turned up a rifle, multiple loaded magazines, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, tactical gear, and a vest with body armor that bore a patch associated with white supremacist extremism, police said.
Working with the FBI's Chicago field office, detectives also recovered a document titled "Why I Fought: A.K.A. (Aurora Shooter's Manifesto)" that contained statements expressing white supremacist and extremist ideologies, including references to violence against people of South Asian heritage, particularly those of Indian descent.
Authorities believe Paporakis may have been planning to carry out an attack on Sunday, possibly targeting a Hindu place of worship in the Aurora area. The specific location has not been confirmed, police said.
Paporakis faces one count of making a terrorist threat and one count of unlawful possession of weapons. A judge ordered him detained during a hearing Wednesday, and he is scheduled to appear in court again on Friday, Oct. 30, at 9 a.m.
Police said there is no ongoing threat to the public, but the investigation remains active. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Palatine Police Department at 847-359-9000.
The case underscores ongoing concerns about domestic extremism and threats against religious communities. In recent years, federal authorities have warned about the rise of white supremacist violence, a threat that has been a focus of debates over homeland security policy. The incident also comes amid broader discussions about hate crimes and the safety of minority groups.
Local officials have not yet commented publicly on the arrest, but the case has drawn attention to the need for vigilance against targeted violence. As the legal process moves forward, more details may emerge about the alleged plot and the evidence gathered by investigators.
