US Teen Arrested Over Plot to Attack Hindu Temple Near Chicago; Gun Jammed During Alleged Shooting Attempt
A 19-year-old teenager has been arrested in connection with an alleged plot to carry out a mass shooting at a Hindu temple near Chicago, according to court documents. Alexandros Paporakis had been planning the attack for over two years, prosecutors from the Cook County State's Attorney's Office said. The suspect had reportedly told co-workers at a Taco Bell outlet in Palatine that he "couldn't wait to kill Indian" people.
Police in Palatine, Illinois, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation believe Paporakis targeted the Sri Venkateswara Swami (Balaji) Temple in Aurora, approximately 40 miles west of Chicago. A red Acura RDX registered to Paporakis entered the temple parking lot around 12:25 pm on Sunday and left within 15 minutes, according to Palatine Police Chief William Nord.
The alleged attack was foiled when Paporakis's firearm malfunctioned. Court documents indicate he called a co-worker to report that his gun had jammed at the scene and that he was attempting to repair his AR-style rifle to "retry" the attack. A co-worker's alert to authorities also aided in preventing the incident.
