In Texas, a mother has been implicated in a case where she is accused of assisting her teenage son in concocting a plan for ‘mass targeted violence’ at his school.
Ashley Pardo has become the first individual in Bexar County to be charged with aiding in the commission of terrorism, following accusations that she supported her 13-year-old son in devising a violent attack at his San Antonio middle school.
According to legal filings, Pardo is alleged to have purchased various items to facilitate her son’s planned attack, including ammunition, tactical gear, and loaded magazines.
Authorities stated that the teenager had drafted maps of the school months in advance, labeling one ‘suicide route.’ His interest in white supremacist mass shooters reportedly fueled his intentions to target Rhodes Middle School.
Allegedly, Pardo provided her son with the means for violence as a reward for babysitting his siblings, according to officials.
Pardo’s legal troubles do not end there; she was taken into custody on August 1 with an additional charge of endangering a child through criminal negligence.
This recent charge arose after officials discovered a photo allegedly sent by Pardo to the father of an 11-month-old child, which played a part in the shooting plot investigation.
The image purportedly shows her pointing a shotgun at the infant’s head, with her finger on the trigger guard as the baby reached toward the gun’s barrel, according to police reports.
In the message, she is accused of referring to the baby as a ‘brat’ and saying: “Tell her to keep being bad.”
Following her detention, the court ordered Pardo to have no contact with her children. If released, she is required to wear an ankle monitor.
Additional judicial orders prohibit her from owning firearms or consuming alcohol.
San Antonio Police reported that Pardo showed a lack of remorse regarding her charges. Chief William McManus commented during 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.”
The teenager had previously been caught hitting a live bullet with a hammer and researching the 2019 Christchurch Mosque massacre, allegedly telling his grandmother, who informed the authorities, that he would become ‘famous.’
This statement referenced Brenton Tarrant, who perpetrated the New Zealand church mass shooting, resulting in 51 fatalities.
Law enforcement discovered white supremacist symbols and messages in the family home, including references to ’14 worlds,’ ‘SS,’ and swastikas. They also found an improvised explosive device, lists of mass shooters and their victims, and evidence of a fascination with violence.
McManus emphasized the urgency of the situation: “There were some very disturbing things found inside that house. That kind of was an indication to us that we needed to move very quickly.”
The San Antonio Independent School District found violent sketches among the boy’s belongings, including school maps.
Despite these discoveries, the boy returned to 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.”
On May 12, court documents revealed that the teen arrived at school wearing unconventional attire, prompting the school to alert the police.
When authorities apprehended him off-campus, a search of his home uncovered unsettling evidence, leading to Pardo’s arrest and subsequent charge of aiding in the commission of terrorism.
The teenager is currently facing a felony weapons charge, with additional charges forthcoming.
His next court appearance is scheduled for August 7.