ASN NEWS USA — NEWS FLASH

PALATINE, Ill. (ASN NEWS USA)— Police say they stopped a possible mass shooting just in time. A 19-year-old Taco Bell cashier from Palatine is in custody after authorities say he plotted to attack a Hindu place of worship in Aurora.

Alexandros Paporakis was arrested Sunday, Oct. 11 — the very day detectives believe he may have planned to carry out the attack — after co-workers reported concerning electronic communications. A search warrant at his home turned up a rifle, multiple loaded rifle magazines, hundreds of additional rounds, and a tactical vest with body armor and a patch linked to white supremacist extremism, police said.

Investigators also found an eight-page document titled “Why I Fought: A.K.A. (Aurora Shooter’s Manifesto),” which prosecutors say expressed white supremacist ideology and described Indian, Jewish and African American people in dehumanizing terms, outlining a plot to kill as many as possible. Police believe the intended target may have been the largest Hindu temple in Aurora, though the exact location remains unconfirmed, with the FBI assisting the investigation.

Co-workers told police Paporakis openly identified as a white supremacist at work and said he couldn’t wait to kill Indian people, according to Cook County prosecutors. He allegedly told co-workers that Sunday was going to be “a special day” — and later told one coworker his gun had jammed and he had left without being seen.

Paporakis faces felony charges of making a terrorist threat and unlawful weapon possession. A judge ordered him detained at a hearing Wednesday; his next court appearance is October 30.

Stay tuned to ASN News USA for updates on this developing story. Reported by ASN News USA. Visit asnnewsusa.com or follow @ASNNewsUSA for updates. ASN NEWS USA: Real News. Real Voices. Real Change.