A rifle in the parking lot, and a coworker who made the call

What happened

On Sunday, October 11, 2026, the first day of an important Hindu festival, a car registered to a 19-year-old man from Palatine, Illinois entered the parking lot of the Sri Venkateswara Swami (Balaji) Temple in Aurora. Palatine Police Chief William Nord told reporters the car pulled in at about 12:25 p.m. and left at 12:38 p.m. A U.S. congressman who worships there told reporters he and his family were at the temple that afternoon.

According to prosecutors, the man had told a coworker at his fast-food job the day before that he was planning “it” at the largest Hindu temple in Aurora, and told another that Sunday “was going to be a special day.” Early that afternoon he called a coworker and said his gun had jammed and he “got out of there super-fast,” prosecutors told CBS Chicago. He then sent messages showing an AR-style rifle, a photo of himself in a tactical vest, and an eight-page manifesto. Two coworkers called 911.

Police arrested him that evening in Palatine. Officers say they found a rifle, loaded magazines, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, body armor and white supremacist material. He is charged with making a terrorist threat and unlawful possession of a weapon, and a judge ordered him held until trial. Police say they believe he acted alone. The charges are allegations. Aurora police reached out to Hindu places of worship in the area after the tip, and the temple says it has added security measures.

What safety teams can take from it

• Your parking lot is the front line. Police say the car sat in the lot for about 13 minutes. Put someone outside before and during services, watching for people who stay in their cars, circle, or don’t get out.
• Attackers often tell someone first. This plan surfaced because coworkers took his messages seriously and called 911. Teach your congregation that “if you hear something, say something” applies to them too, and give them a person to tell.
• Big days are higher-risk days. This happened on a festival day with a full campus. Add people to your team for holidays, special services and events, and review your plan before them.
• Know your local police before you need them. Here, police notified area places of worship after the tip came in. Make sure your local department knows who to call at your church, and that the number is answered.
• Hate toward any faith is a warning for every faith. When a house of worship near you is threatened, check in with your police contact and tighten up for the next few weeks.