Texas mom charged with aiding terrorism in son’s alleged middle school attack plot

A Texas mother is facing terrorism charges after she allegedly purchased ammunition and tactical gear for her son to use in a planned attack on his middle school.

San Antonio police arrested Ashley Pardo, 33, on Monday on charges of aiding in terrorism. Her 14-year-old son, who was not named because of his age, was also detained.

The boy is charged with terrorism for planning “mass targeted violence” at Rhodes Middle School, ABC News reported.

He came to officials’ attention as early as January, when he was found with drawings of the school labeled “suicide route” alongside a sketch of a rifle, according to the arrest affidavit. Officials noted he had a “fascination with past mass shooters.”

In April, he was suspended for one day for using a school-issued computer to research a 2019 shooting at a New Zealand mosque that killed 51 people.

The boy reportedly attempted suicide later that day, requiring more than 100 stitches for injuries caused by a straight razor. He then transferred to an alternative school, which he attended until May 7, officials said. 

The child stayed with his grandmother on various occasions. On Monday, she contacted police after finding him striking a bullet with a hammer. The boy told her he got the bullet from Pardo, who had “guns and ammunition at her house.” 

He also said he was “going to be famous” before Pardo picked him up that morning for school. 

School officials said he arrived wearing a camouflage jacket, mask and tactical pants but left shortly afterward, the affidavit states, leaving them fearful he would return and carry out the attack, The Independent reported. 

The grandmother found loaded pistol and rifle magazines in the boy’s room, as well as a mortar-style firework wrapped in duct tape that could be used as an “improvised explosive device,” ABC reported. Written on it was “For Brenton Tarrant,” the New Zealand shooter, along with multiple “SS” symbols and “14 words,” a reference to white supremacy. 

There was also a handwritten note referencing previous mass shootings, mass shooting suspects and the number of victims in each incident. 

According to the grandmother, Pardo had been buying the boy equipment – including a tactical vest “capable of concealing ballistic plates,” a tactical helmet and various military-style clothing items – in exchange for him babysitting his younger siblings. 

When asked about her son’s threats, Pardo told the school she supported his “violent expressions and drawings” and wasn’t concerned about his behavior. She “intentionally and knowingly aided” her son, officials said. 

Pardo is the latest parent to face charges in connection with a mass shooting or planned attack. 

Police arrested Jeffrey Rupnow last week in connection with the December shooting at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wisconsin, by his daughter Natalie. Rupnow was charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor and two counts of providing a dangerous weapon to a person under 18 resulting in death. 

The parents of a Michigan school shooter who killed four students in 2021 were found guilty of involuntary manslaughter last year. In Georgia, the father of a 14-year-old accused of shooting four people at a high school is facing second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter charges for allowing his son access to a weapon. 

Pardo was released on $75,000 bond. She is due in court July 17 for a pre-indictment hearing.