Police in Illinois say they thwarted a potential mass shooting when they arrested Alexandros Paporakis on Sunday. The suspect, a Palatine resident, allegedly told coworkers that day would be 'a special day' and that his gun had jammed, prompting two of them to call police.
According to court documents obtained by The Associated Press, Paporakis sent an eight-page document titled 'Why I fought: A.K.A. (Aurora Shooter's Manifesto)' to a coworker. The manifesto reportedly described Indian, Jewish and Black people as 'subhumans' and outlined a plan to kill as many of them as possible. In it, Paporakis allegedly referred to himself as 'a sociopathic white supremacist Neo Nazi.'
Prosecutors say Paporakis openly described himself at work as a white supremacist. He faces felony charges of making a terrorist threat and unlawful possession of a weapon. On Wednesday, a judge ordered him held in jail before trial.
Police Chief William Nord said, 'The seriousness of this alleged threat cannot be overstated.' Investigators believe the intended target was the largest Hindu temple in Aurora, about 40 miles southwest of Palatine, though the specific location has not been confirmed and remains under investigation.
The arrest comes amid mounting concern among Indian Americans about hostility toward their community, fueled by bitter political fights over immigration and skilled-worker visas in the United States.