A security worker is said to have reported an alleged rampage at the Lollapalooza Festival in Chicago, although there was no evidence for it. Criminal proceedings have now been instituted against them. At the same time, the festival continued as planned. No concerts had to be canceled or postponed. A total of over 100,000 visitors attended.
According to court documents, the 18-year-old woman, named Janya Williams, reportedly sent a message via the TextNow app that said, “Mass shooting at 4 p.m. at Lollapalooza location. We have 150 targets” to their manager. She is also said to have posted another warning on Facebook, which read: “Mass shooting at Lollapalooza Grant Park at 6pm”. She also sent this false report to her boss.
He then forwarded the received messages to the FBI. Investigators traced the chats and questioned the young woman. In an interrogation, she finally admitted that she only sent the messages because she “wanted to leave work early”.
Williams was arrested on Sunday (July 31) and will soon have to answer in court. The judge set bail at $50,000. It is currently not known whether she has paid bail and is free or still in custody.