A security guard working at last weekend’s Lollapalooza festival in Chicago has been charged with a felony following her allegedly sending messages threatening a mass shooting. The guard reportedly sent the threats in order to get out of work early.
Block Club Chicago reports that 18-year-old Janya Williams sent an anonymous text on Friday, July 29 via TextNow to her supervisor that read, “Mass shooting at 4 pm location Lollapalooza. We have 150 targets.” Her supervisor forwarded the message up her chain of command which led to the Chicago Police and the FBI’s Joint Counterterrorism Task Force being notified of the threat. Williams also showed the supervisor a bogus Facebook screenshot that also alluded to a potential mass shooting.
Chicago Police and the FBI were able to determine via an emergency disclosure request the Apple iCloud account and IP address of the message sent via TextNow. This information pointed to Williams as being the sender.
Block Club Chicago notes, “Prosecutors said when Williams was brought in for questioning, she admitted she sent the message and created the fake post in order to leave work early.”
Williams has been charged with one felony count for making a terrorist threat. Her bond has been set at $50,000 and must wear a tether if she is bonded out of custody. A hearing on this incident has been set for August 8.
