Taco Bell coworkers alerted police after suspect allegedly shared white supremacist views, photos of a rifle and an eight-page manifesto expressing hatred toward Indians and other groups.
A 19-year-old man has been arrested in connection with an alleged plot to carry out a mass shooting at a prominent Hindu temple in suburban Chicago, following a tip from employees at a Taco Bell restaurant where he worked.
Alexandros Paporakis, a resident of Palatine, a northwestern suburb of Chicago, was taken into custody after authorities investigated threats suggesting a potential attack on the Hindu Temple of Greater Chicago in Aurora.
The alert raised by his coworkers may have helped avert a deadly attack at the temple, a major place of worship for the region’s Hindu community.
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According to reports, Paporakis sent a text message to a coworker at Taco Bell, asking him to call. During the subsequent conversation, Paporakis allegedly told his coworker that his gun had jammed and that he had fled the scene in a hurry.
He also allegedly sent the coworker messages through the encrypted messaging app Signal, including photographs of an AR-style rifle and an image of himself wearing a tactical vest. He reportedly indicated that the rifle had failed to fire when he pulled the trigger.
Prosecutors told the court that Paporakis had also shared an eight-page manifesto with the coworker and indicated that he intended to carry out the attack at a later time.
Prosecutors told the court that Paporakis’ coworkers at Taco Bell had described him as an avowed white supremacist who frequently made disparaging remarks about people of other races. One coworker also told police that Paporakis had expressed a particular hatred toward people from India.
Paporakis had allegedly dropped hints about his plans in conversations with coworkers. He told one colleague that he was planning “it” at the largest Hindu temple in Aurora and told another that Sunday “was going to be a special day.”
Alarmed by the exchanges, one of his coworkers called 911 to alert police, prompting an investigation into the alleged plot.
The investigation began after Mount Prospect police, in a suburb northwest of Chicago, contacted the Palatine Police Department about a tip concerning a possible mass shooting. Authorities had received information about disturbing electronic communications allegedly sent by Paporakis that raised concerns about a potential attack.
Paporakis was subsequently arrested outside his home. During a search of the residence, police recovered a rifle, multiple loaded rifle magazines, hundreds of additional rounds of ammunition, tactical equipment and a tactical vest containing body armor. Investigators also discovered a patch bearing imagery associated with white supremacist extremism.
Palatine police said they enlisted the FBI’s assistance in examining Paporakis’ electronic devices and communications. The investigation uncovered a manifesto in which the teenager allegedly identified himself as a white supremacist and expressed hatred toward nonwhite people, including African Americans and Indians, as well as Jews.
“Reading through the manifesto, he did state some extremist ideologies and talked about violence, he talked about mass killings and how he wanted to carry out this mass shooting,” Palatine Police Chief William Nord said.
Paporakis, 19, has been charged with making a terrorist threat, unlawful possession of a weapon and possession of a rifle with a barrel shorter than 16 inches. The charges are felonies.
Prosecutors told the court that Paporakis’ coworkers at Taco Bell had described him as an avowed white supremacist who frequently made disparaging remarks about people of other races. One coworker also told police that Paporakis had expressed a particular hatred toward people from India.
Paporakis had allegedly hinted at his plans in conversations with coworkers. He told one colleague that he was planning “it” at the largest Hindu temple in Aurora and told another that Sunday “was going to be a special day.”
A judge ordered Paporakis detained pending trial.
Palatine police said investigators had not confirmed the specific location targeted in the alleged threats and that the investigation remained ongoing. Aurora police were notified and subsequently coordinated outreach to Hindu places of worship in the area to alert them to the potential threat.
According to court documents, Paporakis had a history of mental and emotional health issues and had not been taking his prescribed medication.