A Texas mother has been arrested for allegedly supplying her son with ammunition and tactical gear as he planned an attack on his middle school in San Antonio. Ashley Pardo, 33, was charged on Monday with aiding in the commission of terrorism after authorities said she knowingly provided her son with materials intended to be used in a mass violence plot targeting Rhodes Middle School.
According to court documents obtained by CNN, ABC News, and KSAT, Pardo’s son exhibited disturbing behaviour for months. In January, school staff discovered his drawings depicting a map of the school labelled "suicide route" alongside the school's name written next to a rifle. The boy reportedly expressed a fascination with past mass shooters, including studying the Christchurch mosque shooter’s manifesto. In April, he was suspended after using a school computer to research the 2019 New Zealand mosque attack, where 51 people were killed.
The boy’s grandmother alerted police after finding live ammunition, tactical gear, and a homemade explosive device in his bedroom. The device bore white supremacist symbols and references to Brenton Tarrant, the Christchurch attacker, including “14 words” and “SS” insignia. A handwritten note listing names of mass shooters and the number of victims was also found.
Despite warnings from law enforcement, child protective services, and school officials about her son’s intentions, Pardo reportedly showed no concern and even expressed support for his violent behaviour. She allegedly acquired the tactical equipment including magazines, a ballistic vest, helmet, and army clothing through trips to a local surplus store and exchanged the purchases for babysitting her son's younger siblings.
On May 12, the boy arrived at Rhodes Middle School wearing a camouflage jacket, tactical pants, and a mask but left soon after, prompting a security alert. Additional police officers were deployed, and the campus was swept for possible threats. The student was later detained off-campus and charged with terrorism.
Pardo was released from Bexar County Jail after posting a $75,000 bond, with her next court appearance scheduled for July 17. Rhodes Middle School’s principal, Felismina Martinez, assured parents in a letter that the school treats all threats seriously and prioritises student safety. The incident has raised urgent questions about how concerns over potential school violence are handled and the role family members play in either preventing or enabling such threats.
The case remains under investigation, with local authorities and the San Antonio Independent School District continuing to monitor the situation closely.
According to court documents obtained by CNN, ABC News, and KSAT, Pardo’s son exhibited disturbing behaviour for months. In January, school staff discovered his drawings depicting a map of the school labelled "suicide route" alongside the school's name written next to a rifle. The boy reportedly expressed a fascination with past mass shooters, including studying the Christchurch mosque shooter’s manifesto. In April, he was suspended after using a school computer to research the 2019 New Zealand mosque attack, where 51 people were killed.
The boy’s grandmother alerted police after finding live ammunition, tactical gear, and a homemade explosive device in his bedroom. The device bore white supremacist symbols and references to Brenton Tarrant, the Christchurch attacker, including “14 words” and “SS” insignia. A handwritten note listing names of mass shooters and the number of victims was also found.
Despite warnings from law enforcement, child protective services, and school officials about her son’s intentions, Pardo reportedly showed no concern and even expressed support for his violent behaviour. She allegedly acquired the tactical equipment including magazines, a ballistic vest, helmet, and army clothing through trips to a local surplus store and exchanged the purchases for babysitting her son's younger siblings.
On May 12, the boy arrived at Rhodes Middle School wearing a camouflage jacket, tactical pants, and a mask but left soon after, prompting a security alert. Additional police officers were deployed, and the campus was swept for possible threats. The student was later detained off-campus and charged with terrorism.
Pardo was released from Bexar County Jail after posting a $75,000 bond, with her next court appearance scheduled for July 17. Rhodes Middle School’s principal, Felismina Martinez, assured parents in a letter that the school treats all threats seriously and prioritises student safety. The incident has raised urgent questions about how concerns over potential school violence are handled and the role family members play in either preventing or enabling such threats.
The case remains under investigation, with local authorities and the San Antonio Independent School District continuing to monitor the situation closely.
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