Palatine Police have provided more information regarding a 19-year-old man’s alleged attempt to commit a mass shooting at a Hindu temple in Aurora.
Alexandros Paporakis, according to Police Chief William Nord, was at the temple on Sunday, hours before police were tipped off and arrested the man.
“Investigators were able to positively identify the offender’s red Acura RDX registered to the offender entering the parking lot of a known Hindu temple in the Aurora community,” the chief said during a Thursday press conference.
The car was seen leaving after about 13 minutes.
It's alleged that the man’s gun jammed when he attempted to open fire and he went back home, allegedly communicating with an acquaintance about what happened.
That person believed he was going to follow-through with the alleged plot and tipped police.
Paporakis was arrested at the home he shares with his mother later the same day.
"Their willingness to report these communications played a vital role in bringing this matter to the attention of law enforcement," Nord said.
Police said they recovered a rifle, hundreds of rounds of ammunition and a body armor vest with a patch containing white supremacist imagery.
Police said he wrote an eight-page manifesto with "white supremacist and extremist ideologies, including references to violence directed toward individuals of South Asian heritage, particularly those of Indian descent."
The chief said it revealed "he's been planning this for some time."
He said it's not believed that anyone else was involved.
Paporakis is charged with making a terrorist threat.
“I want to emphasize that the seriousness of this alleged threat cannot be overstated,” Chief Nord said
Paporakis appeared in court on Wednesday and was denied pre-trial release.
PRESS RELEASE:
Palatine Police Arrest Man Following Investigation into Alleged Mass Shooting Plot
The Palatine Police Department, working in coordination with the Mount Prospect Police Department, arrested a 19-year-old Palatine man following an investigation into threats involving a potential mass shooting.
On Sunday, October 11, 2026, shortly after 3:30 p.m., the Palatine Police Department was contacted by the Mount Prospect Police Department regarding information it had received about a potential mass shooting.
The information originated from an individual who reported receiving concerning electronic communications from Alexandros Paporakis, 19, of Palatine.
According to investigators, Paporakis had shared a document outlining an alleged plan to carry out a mass shooting. He also shared images depicting a rifle, rifle magazines, body armor, and other tactical equipment and accessories.
Recognizing the seriousness of the reported threat, officers from the Palatine and Mount Prospect Police Departments coordinated an immediate response.
Through their joint efforts, Paporakis was located and taken into custody as he was leaving his residence in the 1300 block of North Baldwin Court in Palatine on the evening of October 11.
As part of the subsequent investigation, Palatine Police detectives executed a search warrant at Paporakis' residence. During the search, investigators recovered a rifle, multiple loaded rifle magazines, hundreds of rounds of additional rifle ammunition, tactical equipment, and other items believed to be relevant to the investigation. Among the recovered items was a tactical vest containing body armor and a patch displaying imagery associated with white supremacist extremism.
The investigation continued over the following days, with assistance from the FBI's Chicago Field Office.
Palatine Police detectives examined electronic communications and a self-titled document attributed to Paporakis, “Why I Fought: A.K.A.: (Aurora Shooter’s Manifesto),” which contained statements expressing white supremacist and extremist ideologies, including references to violence directed toward individuals of South Asian heritage, particularly those of Indian descent.
Based on information developed during the investigation, detectives believe Paporakis may have been planning to carry out an attack on Sunday, October 11, potentially targeting a Hindu place of worship in the Aurora area.
The Aurora Police Department was also notified of the potential threat by both the Palatine and Mount Prospect Police Departments. Aurora Police subsequently coordinated outreach to Hindu places of worship in their jurisdiction to make them aware of the information.
Following consultation with the Cook County State's Attorney's Office, Paporakis was charged with: One count of Making a Terrorist Threat, a Class X felony.• One count of Unlawful Possession of Weapons - Possession of a Rifle with a Barrel Less Than 16 Inches in length, a Class 3 felony.
Paporakis appeared for a detention hearing on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, at the Cook County Third Municipal District Courthouse in Rolling Meadows, where a judge ordered him detained. His next court appearance is scheduled for Friday, October 30, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. in Room 108 at the same courthouse.
The Palatine Police Department continues to work closely with the FBI as the investigation remains active, including the review of potential additional charges. Additionally, authorities have not identified any known ongoing threat to the public associated with this incident. "The seriousness of this alleged threat cannot be overstated. Through the immediate sharing of information and coordinated response by the Palatine and Mount Prospect Police Departments, officers were able to identify and take the suspect into custody. We are grateful for the FBI’s assistance in the subsequent investigation and commend the individual who initially came forward with this information. Protecting our communities and places of worship remains a priority, and we will continue working with our law enforcement partners as this investigation moves forward," said Palatine Police Chief William Nord.
“The FBI aggressively works alongside our local and state law enforcement partners to identify, investigate, and dismantle any threats of violence driven by radical ideologies,” said FBI Chicago Special Agent in Charge Ryan Whalen. “Thanks to the swift action by the Palatine and Mount Prospect Police Departments, the subject was taken into custody without harm to our community. The FBI values these strong partnerships and will continue to use every law enforcement and prosecutorial resource available to bring any offender using fear or violence to justice.”
yone with additional information related to this investigation is encouraged to contact the Palatine Police Department at 847-359-9000.
