A 13-year-old has been detained by police on allegations of plotting a school shooting, with his mother also under arrest for allegedly assisting her son.
The incident caused alarm in San Antonio, Texas, as news spread in May that the boy was planning a violent attack at Jeremiah Rhodes Middle School—just 15 minutes from downtown.
In May, the student reportedly arrived at school “wearing a mask, camouflage jacket, and tactical pants but left shortly afterward,” according to police. He was later apprehended away from the school and charged with terrorism.
Court documents reveal that his mother, Ashley Pardo, took him to a military store to purchase the gear, including ammunition. The 33-year-old is said to have bought these items as a reward “in exchange for babysitting his siblings,” as per officials.
The boy’s grandmother alerted the authorities after he told her he was “going to be famous” before heading to school on May 12.
Ashley Pardo has at least two children—the first being the 13-year-old accused of planning the school shooting. The other is an infant, who at just 11 months old, was photographed with Pardo pointing a shotgun at the baby.
The teen was a known troublemaker at Jeremiah Rhodes Middle School, with records indicating he had previously set fires in dumpsters near apartment complexes when he was 11.
Additionally, it’s reported that the teenager had once been caught striking a live bullet with a hammer.
Both Pardo and her son remain in detention.
In the United States, minors under 18 who are arrested related to crimes are granted anonymity until adulthood or until their case moves to an adult court.
In this case, the identity of Pardo’s son is protected by law during the preliminary stages but could be revealed if a judge determines it serves the public interest, given the seriousness of the case.
Pardo is the first person in Bexar County to be charged with aiding in the commission of terrorism, as she allegedly equipped her 13-year-old son with a plan for mass violence at his San Antonio school.
According to court documents, Pardo bought items like ammunition, tactical gear, and loaded magazines to assist her son in the planned shooting.
Officials claim Pardo gave this equipment to her son “in exchange for babysitting his siblings.”
She was arrested in connection with the incident but was released on a $75,000 bond.
Pardo now faces an additional charge of endangering a child with criminal negligence, following her arrest on August 1.
This new charge arises from a photo found among evidence related to the shooting plot, allegedly sent by Pardo to the father of her 11-month-old child, as detailed in the arrest warrant.
The image reportedly shows her holding a shotgun to the infant’s head, with her finger on the trigger guard as the baby reaches for the barrel, police say.
In the accompanying text, she allegedly referred to the baby as a “brat” and wrote: “Tell her to keep being bad.”
Following her arrest, the court ordered Pardo to have no contact with her children, and she must wear an ankle monitor if released from jail. Her bond is set at $45,000.
She is also prohibited from owning firearms or consuming alcohol, as required by the judge’s orders.
According to police, Pardo showed no remorse for the charges against her, with San Antonio Police Chief William McManus commenting in a May news conference: “She appeared to be dismissive and unconcerned with her son’s behavior.”
“Her behavior is not only dangerous—it’s abhorrent, especially as a parent,” McManus added.
The teenager currently only faces a third-degree felony firearm charge for possession of a prohibited weapon, though additional charges are expected.
Deemed a public safety risk, the judge has denied his grandmother’s request for his release into her custody with a GPS tracker.
His next court appearance is scheduled for August 7.
Authorities suggest Pardo’s son had drawn maps of his school months before his arrest, labeled “suicide route,” as his obsession with white supremacist mass shooters led him to plan an attack at Rhodes Middle School.
It was found that the teen had been researching the 2019 Christchurch Mosque massacre, allegedly telling his grandmother—who reported it to the police—that he was “going to be famous.”
This reference was to Brenton Tarrant, who carried out the mass shooting at a New Zealand mosque, killing 51.
At their home, authorities discovered white supremacist slogans and symbols, including references to “14 worlds,” “SS,” and swastikas, along with an improvised explosive device, handwritten lists of mass shooters and their victims, and evidence of a fixation on violence.
McManus noted that the family’s behavior and the findings prompted authorities to act swiftly.
“There were some very disturbing things found inside that house,” he said. “That kind of was an indication to us that we needed to move very quickly.”
San Antonio Independent School District officials discovered violent drawings in the boy’s possession, including school maps.
Despite this, he was allowed back on campus on May 8 after attending an alternative program. SAISD Police Chief Johnny Reyes stated: “I can understand the parents’ concerns. But again, the students still have a right to be in school unless it poses an immediate threat.”
Court documents indicate that on May 12, the teen arrived at school wearing a mask, tactical pants, and a camouflage jacket, prompting the school to notify the police.
On May 12, Rhodes Middle School Principal Felismina Martinez addressed parents on Facebook.
“Dear Families, I want to inform you of an incident that involved a student. Our police department investigated a concern with some posts the student made online,” it read.
“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.
“We will always remain vigilant to ensure our learning and working environment is safe and secure. Student safety is a top priority at SAISD (San Antonio Independent School District) schools, and we want to keep families informed of situations as soon as we are able. We thank you for your support and understanding.”
A week later, the school announced on social media that students should refrain from bringing backpacks to school for the rest of the academic year.
“No more student backpacks will be allowed for the rest of the school year,” it urged.
Understandably, parents were worried after learning about the boy’s plan to conduct a school shooting at Rhodes Middle School. They also expressed concern that the only communication they received about the incident was through a Facebook post.
One concerned mother commented under the initial post: “This should not be the only way to communicate something like this?!? The mother is out on bond and I do not feel safe sending my son the rest of the school year!
“A phone call or email would have been better than posting on Facebook!! What if something had happened?!???”
Another parent added: “Poorly worded response from the school. Made the situation sound a lot less serious than it really is.
“The tone of this letter sounds like Rhodes had something simple as an electrical issue at school not a possible mass shooting being intervened.”
Additionally, another parent commented: “What’s going to happen now? She’s out on bond & who knows where her child is? What if they both go to the school?”
Other parents shared similar concerns, with one asking: “What are the precautions taken in this situation? I’m scared to send my child to school..”
UNILAD has contacted the San Antonio Independent School District for comment.