A fast-food worker’s alleged plan to carry out a mass shooting at a Hindu place of worship near Chicago has been stopped, police say, after his own colleagues raised the alarm. A 19-year-old man was arrested on the very day detectives believe he intended to act.
The suspect is Alexandros Paporakis, a Taco Bell cashier from Palatine, Illinois. He faces felony charges of making a terrorist threat and unlawfully possessing weapons. It was not immediately clear whether he has a lawyer.
Warnings from co-workers
According to prosecutors from the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office, colleagues of Paporakis went to police after receiving worrying digital messages from him. These included photos of tactical gear and a document that laid out an alleged plan for a mass shooting.
The co-workers also told investigators that he openly described himself as a white supremacist at work. They said he claimed he could not wait to kill Indian people. He had reportedly told them that Sunday would be "a special day."
The arrest
Police in Mount Prospect and Palatine worked together to find him. They arrested him as he was leaving his home on Sunday afternoon, the same day detectives believe he may have planned to attack. Investigators think the target was the largest Hindu temple in Aurora, Illinois, although they say the exact intended location is still being examined.
Prosecutors said Paporakis phoned one co-worker earlier that day and claimed his gun had jammed. He allegedly said he had left "super fast" without anyone seeing him.
What was found
When detectives searched his home, they say they recovered an AR-style rifle with no serial number, loaded magazines and ammunition. They also found a gas canister marked with a slur aimed at South Asians, along with several items carrying Nazi symbols.
Prosecutors say he sent a co-worker an eight-page document titled "Why I fought: A.K.A. (Aurora Shooter’s Manifesto)." It allegedly called Indian, Jewish and African American people "subhumans" and described a plot to kill as many of them as possible. In it, the author allegedly described himself as "a sociopathic white supremacist Neo Nazi filled with hatred, fantasizing about mass murder nearly every day."
Where the case stands
Palatine Police Chief William Nord said, "The seriousness of this alleged threat cannot be overstated." He added that protecting places of worship is a priority for law enforcement.
A judge ruled on Wednesday that Paporakis must stay in jail while he waits for trial. His next court appearance is set for Oct. 30. The charges are allegations, and the investigation into the exact target continues.
Image credit: Palatine Police Department
Source: Daily Express US
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