Authorities say a co-worker’s warning helped stop an alleged mass-shooting plan after the 19-year-old visited an Aurora place of worship.
PALATINE, Ill. — A 19-year-old Illinois man is being held in custody after authorities accused him of planning a mass shooting targeting a Hindu place of worship in Aurora, an alleged attack prosecutors say failed when his rifle malfunctioned.
Alexandros Paporakis of Palatine faces felony charges of making a terrorist threat and unlawful possession of a weapon, according to police and prosecutors. A judge ordered him detained at a hearing Wednesday. Authorities said investigators recovered a rifle, ammunition, body armor, tactical equipment and material displaying white supremacist imagery during a search connected to the case. His next court appearance is scheduled for Oct. 30.
The investigation began Sunday after Mount Prospect police received a report from a person who had received concerning electronic communications from Paporakis, Palatine police said. Authorities said that person was a co-worker who became alarmed by messages describing an alleged plan for a mass shooting and contacted police. Mount Prospect officers quickly alerted Palatine police, and officers from the two departments coordinated their response.
Police arrested Paporakis later Sunday as he was leaving his residence in Palatine. Investigators said electronic communications and other evidence indicated he may have been preparing an attack against people of Indian descent at a Hindu place of worship in Aurora. Authorities initially cautioned that the specific intended location had not been formally confirmed and remained under investigation.
At a Thursday news conference, law enforcement officials said surveillance footage showed Paporakis’ vehicle entering the parking lot of a large Hindu temple in Aurora at about 12:25 p.m. Sunday and leaving about 13 minutes later. Police said their investigation indicated he appeared to have acted alone. Prosecutors have alleged that he went to the location armed and intended to carry out an attack.
According to allegations presented in court, Paporakis later contacted a co-worker and said his rifle had malfunctioned. Prosecutors said he shared images of the firearm and tactical equipment and indicated that he still intended to carry out violence after resolving the problem. The co-worker and another employee then contacted authorities. Those details are allegations in the pending criminal case and have not been proven at trial.
Investigators searching Paporakis’ residence said they recovered an AR-style rifle without a serial number, multiple loaded magazines, hundreds of additional rounds of ammunition, a tactical vest and body armor. Police also reported finding items carrying Nazi or white supremacist imagery. The weapons charge concerns authorities’ allegation that Paporakis illegally possessed a rifle with a barrel shorter than 16 inches.
Authorities also said investigators examining Paporakis’ electronic communications found an eight-page document in which he identified himself with white supremacist and neo-Nazi beliefs and expressed hostility toward Indian, Jewish and Black people. Prosecutors said the document discussed mass violence. News organizations have reported only limited portions of the writing because of its racist language and violent content.
Police and prosecutors said co-workers had previously heard Paporakis make racist remarks and discuss white supremacist ideas. Prosecutors alleged that he had been thinking about a mass shooting for an extended period and had focused on an Aurora Hindu worship center in recent months. Those assertions remain part of the prosecution’s case and have not been established as fact by a jury or judge.
U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi of Illinois said Thursday that he and his family were at the Aurora temple when authorities say Paporakis arrived there. Krishnamoorthi said he was horrified by the allegation that Indian Americans and Hindu worshippers had been targeted. No one at the temple was reported injured in connection with the alleged plot.
The FBI has assisted local authorities with the investigation. Police said Thursday that investigators had found no evidence indicating Paporakis was working with another person, although officials continued reviewing electronic devices, communications and other evidence. Law enforcement agencies also contacted Hindu places of worship in the Aurora area after learning of the alleged threat.
Paporakis remains detained while the case proceeds. The charges against him are allegations, and he is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court. Authorities said the investigation remains active and additional evidence is still being reviewed ahead of his scheduled Oct. 30 court appearance.
Author note: Last updated October 15, 2026.