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A Texas mother has been arrested and charged with aiding in the commission of terrorism after allegedly supplying her son with ammunition and tactical gear as he plotted a mass shooting at his middle school.
33-year-old Ashley Pardo was arrested on Monday after it was revealed that her son’s behavior demonstrated plans for “mass targeted violence” at Rhodes Middle School in San Antonio. According to an arrest affidavit reported by ABC News, Pardo's son had shown troubling behavior, including creating a map of the school labeled “suicide route” and drawing images of a rifle alongside the school’s name.
"The affidavit noted that Pardo was purchasing the gear and ammunition for her son in exchange for babysitting his younger siblings," reports ABC News.
The boy had previously drawn attention from school officials after he was found researching mass shootings, including the 2019 Christchurch mosque attack in New Zealand. The affidavit stated he expressed a “fascination with past mass shooters” and was suspended after searching the mosque shooting on a school-issued computer. Later that same day, he “attempted suicide with a straight razor causing significant injuries and requiring over 100 stitches.”
The investigation intensified after the boy’s grandmother contacted police on Monday. She reported finding him “hitting a live bullet with a hammer” and said he claimed to have received the bullet from his mother. She also alleged that Pardo had taken the boy to a military surplus store to purchase tactical gear, including a black vest capable of concealing ballistic plates, a tactical helmet, and army clothing.
The grandmother said the boy told her he was “going to be famous” before Pardo drove him to school. After this comment, she searched his bedroom and discovered loaded ammunition magazines and what was described as an “improvised explosive device.” The device was marked “For Brenton Tarrant,” a reference to the Christchurch shooter, and included neo-Nazi symbols such as “SS” and the “14 words” slogan. A handwritten note referencing other mass shootings was also found.
School officials confirmed that the boy arrived on campus Monday wearing camouflage gear, a mask, and tactical pants before leaving shortly afterward. In a letter sent to parents, Rhodes Middle School Principal Felismina Martinez stated the student was “detained off-campus and is being charged with terrorism.”
"Please know we take all potential threats seriously and act immediately to protect everyone in our care," Martinez wrote. "We will always remain vigilant to ensure our learning and working environment is safe and secure."
Pardo was released on bond on Tuesday. A court hearing has been scheduled for July.
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