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A man has been arrested following an investigation into threats of a potential mass shooting targeting a Hindu temple near Chicago.
Alexandros Paporakis, 19, of Palatine, Illinois, appeared in court Wednesday. He was charged with one count of making a terroristic threat and one count of illegal possession of a weapon for possessing a rifle with a barrel less than 16 inches long, reports BBC US partner CBS.
Police said they found a manifesto in which Paporakis identified himself as a white supremacist and wrote about his hatred for non-white people.
Prosecutors said the defendant told a colleague on the phone that his gun was jammed and sent messages showing an AR-style rifle, CBS reported.
Other messages showed the gun not firing when he pulled the trigger, and a photo of himself in a tactical vest, according to prosecutors.
This colleague and another employee of the Taco Bell, where Paporakis worked, called the police on Sunday to report the incident.
Palatine Police Chief William Nord said officers “recovered a shotgun, they recovered loaded magazines, hundreds of rounds of shotgun ammunition, as well as body armor,” while searching Paporakis’ home.
Officials and the FBI were also able to examine Paporakis’ electronics and electronic communications, where they said they found the manifesto.
“When he read through the manifesto, he indicated some extremist ideologies and talked about violence, he talked about mass murder and how he wanted to carry out this mass shooting,” North said, according to CBS.
Prosecutors allege Paporakis’ colleague told police the defendant talked about being a white supremacist while on the job, and made disparaging comments about people of other races.
Prosecutors said that on Saturday, Paporakis told a worker he was planning “it” at a Hindu temple in Aurora, saying Sunday was “a special day,” before calling his colleague the next day and sending the messages.
Police said a specific intended location in the alleged threats has not been confirmed, and the investigation remains open.
Local congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi said he was “appalled” by the incident. In a statement posted on Facebook, he said: “Every American deserves to live and worship without fear, and we must stand together against hate in all its forms.”
