Crime
18-year-old Esmeralda Vargas accused of threatening to ‘shoot-up’ North Elementary School in Des Plaines
The post also reportedly referenced admiration for the Uvalde school shooter, which raised significant alarm.
Des Plaines, IL – An 18-year-old woman from Des Plaines is facing felony charges after allegedly posting a TikTok video threatening a shooting at her former elementary school.
Esmeralda Vargas was charged with disorderly conduct after authorities were alerted to the threat by the SS-ARS Crisis Center, an organization that tracks tips regarding potential school shooters.
According to police, Vargas posted a TikTok video on September 9 in which she threatened to “shoot up” North Elementary School, the school she once attended.
The post also reportedly referenced admiration for the Uvalde school shooter, which raised significant alarm.
Detectives swiftly acted on the tip, contacting TikTok to trace the origin of the video. With information provided by the platform, authorities located Vargas at her residence in the 1400 block of East Willow Avenue.
Law enforcement officers, with the cooperation of Vargas’ parents, conducted a search of the home.
No firearms were found during the search, but Vargas was subsequently banned from all District 62 properties.
A search warrant served to TikTok yielded further evidence corroborating the threat and its contents.
The investigation revealed the explicit mention of North Elementary School in the threat.
Vargas voluntarily turned herself in to police on Monday. She was officially charged with disorderly conduct, a felony under Illinois law.
The incident underscores the seriousness with which authorities address potential threats to schools.
The Des Plaines Police Department thanked the SS-ARS Crisis Center and TikTok for their cooperation in resolving the matter swiftly.
School officials have reiterated their commitment to ensuring the safety of students and staff, emphasizing the importance of reporting any suspicious activity or threats. The investigation remains ongoing.
MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP, Mich. – Authorities have confirmed that a suspect is in custody following a shooting incident at the Meridian Mall on Friday afternoon.
As a result, the lockdown at the mall has been lifted.
The Meridian Township Police Department issued a public advisory just before 2:00 p.m., urging residents and shoppers to avoid the area near the Dick’s Sporting Goods entrance while officers conducted an active investigation at the scene.
At this time, police have not released specific details regarding the nature of the shooting, including whether anyone was injured or the circumstances surrounding the suspect’s arrest.
Law enforcement officials continue to investigate the incident and are expected to provide additional information as it becomes available.
The public is asked to remain clear of the immediate area to allow for the ongoing investigation.