An 18-year-old woman from Des Plaines, Esmeralda Vargas, has been charged with disorderly conduct after allegedly posting a TikTok video that threatened a shooting at her former elementary school. The incident, which occurred on September 9, was reported after Des Plaines school officials received a tip from the SS-ARS Crisis Center, an organization that monitors potential threats related to school violence.
Vargas, who had attended North Elementary School in Des Plaines, is accused of posting a video on TikTok in which she threatened to “shoot up” the school. Following the report, Des Plaines police investigators reached out to TikTok to obtain more information. They successfully identified Vargas’ address, which was located in the 1400 block of East Willow Avenue.
With the assistance of Vargas’ parents, officers conducted a search of the residence but did not find any firearms. However, Vargas was subsequently banned from all District 62 property as a precautionary measure. To further investigate the threat, the police obtained a search warrant for additional data from TikTok. The information revealed that Vargas had expressed admiration for the Uvalde school shooter, describing the individual as her “idol.”
Vargas voluntarily turned herself into the police on Monday, where she was formally charged with disorderly conduct, a felony offense. The case highlights the growing concern surrounding threats of violence shared on social media platforms, with authorities emphasizing the importance of reporting potential threats and responding swiftly to prevent possible harm. The investigation is ongoing as law enforcement continues to assess the full extent of the threat made by Vargas.
