An 18-year-old Des Plaines woman is accused of threatening a shooting at her former elementary school.
Esmeralda Vargas was charged with disorderly conduct because, according to Des Plaines police, she uploaded a video Sept. 9 on TikTok threatening to “shoot-up” North Elementary School in Des Plaines. She also claimed the Uvalde school shooter was her “idol,” Des Plaines Police said in statement Friday.
Police were notified of the video after receiving an anonymous tip from the SS-ARS Crisis Center, an organization that receives tips about possible school shooting threats.
Investigators then contacted TikTok to obtain the subscriber’s information and were able to track Vargas’ address to the 400 block of East Willow Avenue, police said.
With the cooperation of her parents, police searched the home but did not find any firearms. Vargas was banned from School District 62 property.
Responding to a search warrant, TikTok on Dec. 6 provided investigators with details of a conversation between Vargas and an unknown user where she threatened a shooting a her former elementary school.
Vargas surrendered to police Monday, police said.