Krishnamoorthi says he was at temple with family during shooting attempt
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U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.) in Washington, D.C. Photo: Finn Gomez/Getty Images
U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.) says he and his family were at an Aurora Hindu temple on Sunday when a self-described white supremacist allegedly tried to carry out a mass shooting.
Why it matters: The alleged plot targeted people of Indian descent at a Hindu temple, according to court documents, raising concerns about hate-fueled violence at places of worship in the Chicago suburbs.
What they're saying: "I am horrified that a white supremacist attempted to carry out a mass shooting targeting Indian Americans at the Hindu temple in Aurora where my family worships," Krishnamoorthi said in a statement. "My family and I were there when the attack was attempted last Sunday."
What happened: Prosecutors say 19-year-old Alexandros Paporakis of Palatine went to the temple armed with a rifle Sunday but left after the weapon reportedly malfunctioned.
- After he allegedly told coworkers about the failed attempt and plans to try again, they contacted police.
- Investigators recovered a rifle, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, tactical equipment and a manifesto containing white supremacist beliefs, authorities said.
Zoom in: At a Thursday morning news conference, Palatine police confirmed that a vehicle registered to the suspect spent approximately 13 minutes in the temple's parking lot Sunday.
- Police say the vehicle arrived at 12:25pm and departed at 12:38pm.
- Investigators have not confirmed the suspect's account that he attempted to fire his rifle but that it malfunctioned.
- Authorities believe he acted alone and are working with the FBI.
Zoom out: Nearly half of South Asian adults surveyed nationwide said they experienced a race-based hate act in 2025, according to a September report from Stop AAPI Hate.
- The report also found that anti-South Asian slurs online more than doubled between 2023 and 2025.
- "The threat of such violence shows how dangerous anti-Indian hatred and white supremacy have become, and we cannot wait until innocent people are killed to take these threats seriously," Krishnamoorthi added.
What's next: Paporakis faces felony charges of making a terrorist threat and unlawful possession of a weapon. He remains in custody pending trial, with his next court appearance set for Oct. 30.
- Police and the FBI are investigating possible additional charges.