Attempted Mass Shooting at Hindu Temple in Aurora Reported by Prosecutors

A Hindu temple in Aurora was the target of an alleged mass shooting attempt over the weekend, according to prosecutors. Alexandros Paporakis, 19, identified in a manifesto as a white supremacist, reportedly spent two years planning the attack and had been targeting the temple for two months. On the day of the incident, Paporakis attempted to shoot a man from a car, but his AR-style rifle jammed, as stated in court records. Following the incident, Paporakis sent messages to a co-worker at a Taco Bell, indicating that the intended victim was 'certainly saved by his God today.' The co-worker, along with another employee, called 911, leading to Paporakis' arrest in a Palatine apartment complex parking lot. A search of his apartment revealed a rifle, bullet magazines, 300 rounds of ammunition, a gas can, and Nazi-related materials. Paporakis was ordered detained during a court hearing on Wednesday and faces charges of making a terrorist threat and illegal gun possession. U.S. Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi was present at the temple with family members during the attempted shooting. He stated that he learned about the incident through media reports and emphasized that the manifesto demonstrates how hateful sentiments can lead to violence. Krishnamoorthi plans to request an FBI investigation into the incident as a hate crime. He expressed concern about the rise of hate speech and its potential to escalate into violence, calling for collective action against such rhetoric. Prosecutors noted that Paporakis had exhibited warning signs, including making disparaging comments about people of other races and expressing a desire to harm nonwhite individuals in his manifesto. He had reportedly become increasingly agitated leading up to the planned attack, indicating that he intended to retry the shooting after the rifle jammed.