A mother has been charged with aiding in the commission of terrorism after allegedly buying her son ammunition and tactical gear for his planned “mass targeted violence” at school.
Ashley Pardo, 33, bought the gear for her son, who had planned mass violence at Rhodes Middle School in San Antonio, in return for him babysitting his younger siblings, officials said.
Highlights
- Ashley Pardo was charged with aiding terrorism by buying ammo and tactical gear for her son's planned school attack.
- The boy had live ammunition, tactical gear, and an improvised explosive device referencing white supremacy.
- His grandmother alerted authorities after finding him hitting a live bullet with a hammer.
- The boy was arrested off campus and charged with terrorism.
- Pardo admitted supporting her son's violent behavior despite warnings from school officials.
An arrest affidavit issued by Bexar County Magistrate Court said tactical gear and ammunition were found at Prado’s home, and she had “intentionally and knowingly aided” her son.
Ashley Pardo supplied her son with ammunition and tactical gear, officials said
Image credits: Bexar County Sheriff’s Office
The affidavit—reviewed by CBS and ABC—revealed the boy’s grandmother had contacted the authorities after she found him “hitting a live bullet with a hammer.”
He informed his grandmother that Pardo had “guns and ammunition at her house” and said she had given him the bullet.
Before Pardo picked him up for school the following day (Monday, May 12), he told his grandmother he was “going to be famous.”
She then discovered magazines loaded with live rifle ammunition and pistol magazines loaded with live ammunition in his bedroom, according to the affidavit.
An “improvised explosive device” was found alongside his belongings, with the inscription “For Brenton Tarrant,” as well as symbols and words referencing white supremacy.
Image credits: Google Maps
The boy arrived at school wearing a camouflage jacket, mask, and tactical pants, but he left shortly afterward and was arrested off campus.
Rhodes Middle School Principal Felismina Martinez confirmed the incident in a letter to parents.
“The student was detained off-campus and is being charged with Terrorism,” the letter said.
“Please know we take all potential threats seriously and act immediately to protect everyone in our care.
“We will always remain vigilant to ensure our learning and working environment is safe and secure.”
The boy’s arrest comes after staff members at the school discovered a troubling map labeled “suicide route” in January, which included the school's name, along with a drawing of a rifle.
Image credits: Rhodes Middle School
He admitted to authorities that he had an interest in previous mass shooters, including their writings and manifestos.
By April, he had been suspended for using a school-issued computer to research the deadly 2019 attack on two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand.
The name of the shooter, Brenton Tarrant, was later found inscribed on an explosive device in the boy’s room.
After he was suspended in April, he tried to take his own life, the affidavit said.
On May 8, he returned to Rhodes Middle School after spending some time in an alternative school program.
According to the affidavit, Pardo was aware of her son’s behavior and told school officials she supported his “violent expressions and drawings.”
Pardo has been released from custody on bail
Image credits: KENS 5
She also said that she had no concerns regarding his behavior.
“It has been expressed to the Defendant the concerns of her child’s expression and desire to commit acts of mass violence,” the affidavit said.
“The Defendant expressed to the school her support of (her son’s) violent expressions and drawings and does not feel concerned for his behavior.”
On Tuesday, Pardo was released from custody on a $75,000 bond, court documents show. She will return to court for her next hearing on July 17.