A 13-year-old boy from San Antonio, Texas, has been arrested and charged after police say he plotted to carry out a mass shooting at his middle school, and his mother is also facing charges for allegedly helping him prepare for the attack.
Authorities say the teen had been planning a shooting at Jeremiah Rhodes Middle School, located just 15 minutes from downtown San Antonio. In May, he arrived on campus wearing a face mask, camouflage jacket, and tactical pants but left shortly afterward. He was later arrested and charged with terrorism, BBC News reported.
Court records allege the boy’s mother, Ashley Pardo, 33, took him to a military surplus store where she purchased tactical gear, ammunition, and magazines, reportedly as a reward for babysitting his younger siblings, according to CNN.
Tip-off came from grandmother
The plot was uncovered after the boy’s grandmother called police, warning that her grandson had made disturbing statements about becoming “famous” before leaving for school on May 12. Police acted quickly, uncovering alarming evidence at the family’s home.
According to investigators, the boy had drawn maps of the school labeled “suicide route,” researched past mass shootings (including the 2019 Christchurch mosque massacre in New Zealand) and expressed admiration for white supremacist attackers. Officers also reportedly found white supremacist symbols, handwritten lists of mass shooters, and even an improvised explosive device, the Daily Mail detailed.
Who is Ashley Pardo?
Pardo is the mother of at least two children; her 13-year-old son and an infant. She has now been charged with aiding in the commission of terrorism, becoming the first person in Bexar County to face such a charge.
She was arrested and initially released on $75,000 bond, but is now facing an additional charge of child endangerment after police uncovered a disturbing photo of her holding a shotgun to her baby’s head, with her finger on the trigger guard, CBS reported.
According to an arrest affidavit, Pardo allegedly texted the image to the infant’s father, referring to the baby as a “brat” and writing: “Tell her to keep being bad.”
Following her second arrest on August 1, Pardo was ordered to wear an ankle monitor if released, barred from having any contact with her children, and prohibited from owning firearms or consuming alcohol. Her bond was set at $45,000.
San Antonio Police Chief William McManus described her demeanor during questioning as “dismissive and unconcerned,” calling her behavior “abhorrent, especially as a parent.”
Charges against the teen
The 13-year-old is currently charged with possession of a prohibited weapon, a third-degree felony. More charges are expected.
Despite his grandmother’s request to have him released to her custody with a GPS monitor, a judge denied the motion, citing the boy as a danger to public safety. His next court hearing is scheduled for August 7.
The teen’s name has not been released due to U.S. legal protections for minors, but this could change if the case is moved to adult court due to the severity of the allegations.
Parents outraged over school communication
Many parents expressed frustration and fear over how the school handled the situation, particularly its reliance on Facebook for updates.
“This should not be the only way to communicate something like this,” one parent wrote. “What if something had happened?”
Another added: “The tone of this letter sounds like Rhodes had something simple as an electrical issue, not a possible mass shooting being intervened.”
Others questioned the safety protocols in place, especially after Pardo was released on bond. “What are the precautions taken in this situation?” one parent asked. “I’m scared to send my child to school.”
Chief McManus said the combination of the teen’s behavior, the gear purchased by his mother, and what investigators found in their home necessitated swift action.
“There were some very disturbing things found inside that house,” he said. “It was clear we needed to act quickly.”
READ MORE
- Vikings rookie, 24, and two footballer friends killed in tragic car crash
- Simone Biles’ birth mother begs Olympic gymnast for forgiveness: ‘Let’s move forward’
