Rifle

Alexandros Paporakis, 19, of Palatine, Illinois, was arrested Sunday after a coworker at a Taco Bell in Arlington Heights alerted authorities to disturbing messages, including a video of an AR-style rifle and a photo of him in tactical gear. A search of his apartment turned up the rifle with no serial number, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, body armor, a gas can, and items bearing Nazi symbolism.

Prosecutors say Paporakis wrote an eight-page manifesto, referencing the Aurora, Colorado theater shooter, describing himself as a "sociopathic white supremacist Neo-Nazi" and expressing intent to kill as many minorities as possible before dying himself. He had allegedly been planning the attack for two years, targeting a Hindu place of worship in Aurora, Illinois, around October 11. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi later revealed he and his family were worshiping at that temple at the time of the alleged plot. He faces felony charges of making a terrorist threat and unlawful weapon possession and was ordered detained, with his next court date set for October 30. Officials including Krishnamoorthi and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries condemned the alleged plot amid concerns over rising anti-South Asian and anti-Hindu extremism.

Cincinnati police and University of Cincinnati police updated city council on efforts to curb violence near campus after a violent start to the fall semester. Officials said increased foot and bike patrols, road barricades, overtime funding and social media monitoring have improved conditions, though the semester began with seven reported shootings, including two homicides, near campus between the start of term and September 22 — more than in the same period in recent years.

Police said a new pattern emerged this year: organizers using social media to advertise large gatherings and encourage attendees to bring firearms. One such gathering led to gunfire near University Square in late August with no injuries. Monitoring led police to Ronquez Benton, who was later arrested on campus with a rifle after promoting another gathering; he faces charges including trespassing and weapons offenses. A passenger in his car was also arrested on a weapons charge. Police say no further gathering posts have appeared since. UC has doubled funding for off-duty officer patrols in nearby neighborhoods.